Licensees are hoping to strike a closer relationship with the police to make Keighley a better place in which to drink and socialise.

It follows committee members of Keighley's pub and clubwatch scheme expressing serious misgivings with regard to the working relationship at their latest meeting.

Pubwatch co-ordinator Bob Brown said yesterday that catalyst for the worries came after the recent stabbing of Cavendish Hotel licensee Kevin Maddox in his own pub.

Mr Brown, licensee of the Red Pig, Church Street, who has written to Keighley's police chief, said: "There has been a lack of liaison with the police.

"We have a better relationship with police than ever before to some extent, but we want more input from a higher level on how to deal with certain problems."

The group is hoping for a quicker response from police at any future flashpoint incidents, citing the lack of powers the public has to deal with them.

Mr Brown is also hoping for more back up from magistrates.

He said the watch scheme was currently working with a criminal lawyer on how to serve banning orders to make licensees' lives easier.

And he hoped the proposed change in licensing laws would make pubwatch schemes compulsory and so lessen problems, such as excessive and underage drinking and alcohol-fuelled disorder.

He added: "I would like to emphasise Keighley has a wide variety of pubs and it is a great place to come for a drink, but it could be better. It is the chance for Keighley to get ahead of the game.

"We do not have a major problem with pub disorder in general, but it could be improved and be a role model for the rest of the country."

Keighley police division commander Supt Mark Whyman said there had probably just been a breakdown in communication and he was looking forward to building a closer bond with licensees.

He said: "We are working with a wide number of such schemes across the area. They are all about maintaining dialogue, and perhaps some way along the line there has been a breakdown in contact."

He added: "We will be looking at how we can prevent assaults and other incidents, inside and outside premises."