Bus bosses and police have joined forces in a new crime-busting initiative focused on catching criminals red-handed.

Keighley & District Travel is the first bus company in West Yorkshire to fund video equipment in a new Keighley police divisional traffic car.

The sponsorship will last a year.

And the initiative was sparked by the success of video cameras fitted in the bus company's fleet which have helped police crack crime in the town.

Last year cameras on a Bradford bound bus recorded a knife attack on a driver and led to the prosecution of a Keighley man who is now serving six years in prison.

The police camera enables officers to record continuous footage while the vehicle is in service, and is linked to a speed detection system.

Keighley & District Travel managing director Stuart Wilde said: "To me it seemed a logical step forward to help police by sponsoring a camera.

"I'd like to think that other companies would also take up the initiative.

"We know the most positive way to crack down on crime is by co-operation across the community.

"The police cannot do it all alone, and as a public transport operator we are proud to be leading the way."

There are four cameras on each bus - one facing forward, another focussed on the entrance and two facing inside.

They have captured road traffic accidents, robberies and speeding incidents.

Chief Superintendent Graham Sunderland of Keighley police said: "This is an excellent example of the police and local community working in partnership in the fight against crime and anti-social behaviour."

Sergeant Roger Birkett of Keighley road traffic department said: "The system is able to provide us with good quality video evidence against those people who use vehicles in any crimes."

The film would also be a valuable record of events as they occurred and could help in gathering evidence.