A massive 95 per cent of Keighley people want a Town Council, according to a survey by campaigners.

The Keighley Voice group collected 5,188 signatures from townspeople supporting their desire for an elected body to run local services.

The petition was this week presented to Bradford Council, beginning a three-month process that they hope will lead to government approval.

A Town Council would be similar to a parish council and could run a range of services, including playgrounds, parks, street cleaning and lighting, road safety, libraries and markets.

It could also elect its own mayor, raise a rate to pay for some services, and take over others from Bradford Council.

Keighley Voice was formed last year by home rule campaigners, local politicians and other residents to carry out preparations for a Town Council.

They chose an area including all three Keighley wards -- south, west and north -- as well as parts of the Worth Valley which do not have a parish council, such as Oakworth.

Over the past five months, Keighley Voice members have knocked on thousands of doors, talked to local groups and put petitions in shops.

They needed to collect at least 3,800 signatures from across the whole area in support of a Town Council, but managed to gain 5,188.

Martin Leathley, Keighley Voice treasurer and a Bradford councillor, says a "Yes" vote came from 95 per cent of the people asked. More than 12 per cent of townspeople were contacted.

Bradford Council now has three months to carry out its own consultation with Keighley people before making a recommendation to the government.

This consultation can be through a town-wide referendum, a market research campaign or neighbourhood forum meetings.

Cllr Leathley believes Bradford will adopt the same process it used before setting up Haworth parish council, a postal ballot of all adults.

He adds: "The support for a Town Council is so overwhelming that I think anyone would be ill-advised to ignore or contradict it.

"It's been so uniform across different economic groups and different areas of the town -- we've had support from every age, creed and colour."

The petition will be discussed at next Tuesday's full meeting of Bradford Council, when Keighley Voice secretary Tony Wright will be allowed to speak for a few minutes.

Cllr Leathley will ask colleagues to refer the matter to Keighley Area Panel -- made up of councillors representing the town -- to oversee the consultation.