Cash-strapped Keighley police have gone cap in hand to the town council to provide funding for a mobile telephone.

Police are looking to secure up to 14 phones for use by Keighley's POP team officers, who cover an area from Frizinghall to Kildwick, at an estimated cost of around £1,700.

Insp Tony Walker, of Keighley Police, said that the current budget for policing the district did not allow for the provision of mobile phones and he was now looking towards councils, businesses and other organisations to foot the bill.

He said: "It is over and above what has been budgeted for. The budget allows us to provide the service, this initiative gives us added value."

Insp Walker who, among his roles, is responsible for fundraising, addressed a town council meeting last week during which he asked councillors to pay for the scheme.

The phone, which could cost anything between £168 and £250 per year, would be paid for out of the council's budget.

He told councillors that the new phone would give the public immediate access to police and enable the public to forge closer links with their local officer.

He said: "We are trying to increase accessibility of the public and improve the service. They will be able to get through to a named officer more quickly."

The council agreed to consider the request and has referred the matter for debate at the next meetings of the finance and watch committees.

A similar move recently caused a storm in Ilkley when it was revealed that the town's parish council had agreed to pay for the phone out of its new precept.

After the Keighley Town Council meeting Insp Walker explained that if the scheme was a success then in future the cost could be met within the police's own budget.