Work on Keighley's new bus station could be finished in time for Christmas.

Visitors to the town centre can now see the structure of the development taking shape and this week the roof was placed on top of the building.

A major part of the £3 million project could now be finished by Christmas in time to meet the tight deadline originally set for its completion. If the work is not finished before the Christmas shopping period then council chiefs and traders want the work halted until the New Year.

A spokesman for the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive said: "We are very pleased with the work.

The builders are working extremely well and we are nearly there. The work is ongoing and is according to schedule.

Although the contractual completion date was scheduled for January 2002, every effort is being made with the contractor for the works to be completed by Christmas 2001."

The new station will be a single building made of futuristic steel, glass and artificial stone where buses will stand at an angle to the covered central concourse.

The development will include new toilets, a travel centre, shops and a new electronic passenger information board.