A massive half-million-pound investment is set to propel Keighley to the forefront of information and communication technology.

The town has been selected to host a high-tech centre as part of a Government initiative to make computers and the Internet accessible to all.

The £502,180 Keighley scheme is among 17 so-called UK online centres being established in Yorkshire and Humberside.

Nationally it is predicted that around 6,000 centres will be developed within two years.

They will offer the chance for people, especially those in disadvantaged communities, to try new technology and move on to further learning and training opportunities.

The Keighley project -- one of the biggest in the country -- will see 65 computers with video cameras and Internet links installed in at least four locations around the town.

Keighley College, the Sangat Centre, the Russell Street Project and Keighley Disabled People's Centre are all involved in the innovative venture.

It is hoped the scheme could be operational as early as next Easter.

Andy Brown, currently director of operations at Keighley College, drew up the project bid in conjunction with the partner organisations.

There was also help from Roz Hall, the Keighley Single Regeneration Budget co-ordinator.

This week Mr Brown said he was delighted at the success of the bid, which he says will help create an on-line community of learners and will open up many new exciting opportunities.

He told us: "The impact for the whole town will be enormous.

"We currently enrol 2,000 students a year for IT courses, but this will enable us to reach even more people. We will be able to train an extra 400 people a week in IT and related skills.

"The latest IT learning for adults will be taken to groups in the community which would not normally have access.

"Links will be established via the Internet between the partner sites.

Mrs Brown says: "Users will be able to communicate on-line and even see a video picture of the person they are talking to.

"Whole new avenues will be created to enable the sharing of information and access to resources.

"The centre will be linked to Learn Direct. A web site for Keighley adult learners will mean that people can glean a wealth of information, and receive pointers to other sites of interest.

"Coupled with what is happening at Greenhead School in terms of technology tuition for young people, the introduction of this centre with its first-class IT equipment is great news.

"It will help people develop their skills and improve their job prospects, and it will in turn benefit employers," he adds.