A father-of-four is leading the way to transform a "grubby" village into a gateway to Bront country by campaigning for a new play area.

Parish councillor Ian Shackleton has lived in Cross Roads since 1974, and has made it his mission to improve the village and make it a place for the community to be proud of.

The 51-year-old's crusade came after he did research into the area on the Internet and discovered that Cross Roads was described as "a grubby little place between Keighley and Halifax".

Cllr Shackleton is now trying to obtain grants to fund a new play area in Cross Roads Park, to replace the out-dated one.

Cllr Shackleton, of Lorne Street, said: "I looked Cross Roads up on the Internet and it was described as a grubby place on the road from Keighley to Halifax, and it didn't give Cross Roads very good PR.

"I thought that rather than being described as a grubby place, it should be called a gateway to Bront country, so I set about trying to improve the area.

"I have done research and it seemed to me that the children's play area let it down. I have two young children and I live across the road from Cross Roads Park. I want things in the park which are suitable for children of all ages and something the community can be proud of."

Cllr Shackleton has outline drawings of the play area he wants and is working alongside Haworth, Cross Roads and Stanbury Parish Council to try and achieve this for the village.

He added: "The play area is bad, the equipment is out of date and I want to do what I can.

"The surfacing is not the best it could be, and I would like to see rubber surfacing put down.

"I want something that everyone can use, from toddlers to 14 and 15-year-olds. And we also have to think of children with disabilities. They all need somewhere to play and Cross Roads Park at the moment doesn't fit the bill. It is really a long way behind the other parks in the area. I am applying for grants to fund the scheme. It is still in the early stages but I am fairly optimistic we will win through in the end."