A leading Keighley theatre director has welcomed planned improvements to the town's Victoria Hall.

Keighley Amateurs pantomime producer Keith Marsden hopes backstage facilities will be on Bradford Council's list of renovations.

The council this week revealed that the historic hall - adapted as a theatre around three decades ago - was in the line for refurbishment.

Steve Warner, the council's head of sports and leisure, spoke to the Keighley News following public concern about the state of Victoria Hall.

He said: "We have recently completed building condition surveys of our facilities, including Victoria Hall. "This has provided us with a view on what refurbishment work needs be carried out.

"We are currently working to try and access funding from a variety of sources, to support improvement work at Victoria Hall and our other sites across the district."

Victoria Hall was originally a mansion - part of the Eastwood estate - but became a museum in 1899 after being bought by the Town Council. The main hall was adapted for dances in the early 1960s after the museum collections had been transferred to the newly-opened Cliffe Castle Museum.

For almost the past three decades Victoria Hall has been used twice each year by Keighley Amateurs for the society's popular autumn musical and post-Christmas pantomime.

It is also used at least once a year by youth theatre HYT, and occasionally for performances by local dance groups and rock bands.

The auditorium is also used regularly for wedding celebrations, old-time dances and official functions.

Keith Marsden - who has produced and performed in many productions at Victoria Hall - believes improvements are definitely due.

He says: "There's been no major restructuring or thinking put into the hall since Keighley Museum was moved.

"It's the only large public hall in Keighley and the council should take more notice. It's nicely situated, with a car park, and close to the road."

Mr Marsden would like to see backstage facilities near the top of the council's proposed list of improvements.

He says theatrical groups would benefit from permanent sound and lighting equipment, a "fly tower" for scenery, and more space on each side of the stage.

Particularly needed is extra space for performers to get changed, along with more backstage toilets.