Keighley is to get more bobbies on the beat.

The town is receiving over half a million pounds to fund extra police patrols.

The windfall is part of a bumper £1.75 million of Neighbourhood Renewal cash being pumped, over two years, into additional policing across the Bradford district.

A matching amount will also be spent on crime prevention initiatives and tackling anti-social behaviour.

Chief Inspector Steve Hobson (pictured), of Keighley Police, said officers would be assigned to specific areas within the division and would develop links with those communities.

Over 50 bobbies have volunteered to work rest days to provide the extra cover, which will equate to more than 300 additional man hours each month.

Priority areas identified for the extra patrols include Lawkholme and Showfield, Holycroft and Knowle Park, and Braithwaite, Laycock and Guard House.

Chief Insp Hobson said: "All surveys carried out in relation to policing always show that the public feels reassured by the sight of a patrolling police officer.

"This extra cover - which I should stress is over and above what is already provided and does not replace anything - will put high-visibility patrols on the streets.

"Officers will be allotted to specific communities - there could be two or in some cases three attached to areas identified as being of priority.

"Each will do a profile of their area and get to know the community.

"At present our work is very much intelligence led, but this initiative will see more officers on the beat."

West Yorkshire Police Assistant Chief Constable Greg Wilkinson - co-chairman of the Safer Communities Partnership which approved the £3.5 million district-wide spending - said: "The extra money will enable us to provide a greater policing presence across the district, helping to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour.

"We want more local officers to be out and seen in their communities. We want the people of Bradford and district to see a difference.

"These patrols should go a long way to reassuring communities that a top class policing service is being delivered on their doorsteps."

Funding will also cover the expansion in the district of initiatives such as CCTV and street wardens, and measures to safeguard property, and police will work in close partnership with the council and other agencies to implement the measures.

Chief Inspector Steve Hobson (above)