Residents of the rundown Victoria Road and Malsis Road area of Keighley are to be heavily involved in a new regeneration initiative.

They will be brought together with all the agencies in the neighbourhood to thrash out new ideas to improve the quality of life.

A new Victoria and Malsis Neighbourhood Development Partnership will be formed, covering the area roughly between Lund Park and South Street.

Householders will be joined by councillors, police, shopkeepers, business people and representatives of council departments, voluntary groups and other organisations.

They will examine problems and possible solutions, including those that have worked in other areas, then look at potential sources of funding.

Details of the partnership plan were revealed at an Ingrow, Fell Lane and Exley Head neighbourhood forum by council officer Jeff Bennett.

Mr Bennett, Keighley's assistant area co-ordinator, said the idea wasn't to "parachute in" with ready-made solutions.

He explained: "A lot of good work goes on already and we don't want to overshadow that. It's about finding gaps and making sure everybody is going in the right direction."

Mr Bennett stressed the borders of the partnership area would not be set in stone.

"We want to assess local need and look at where we have to direct resources."

Ward councillor John Prestage said he wanted to avoid one side of a street receiving help and the other missing out.

The initiative has grown out of residents' complaints at Neighbourhood Forum meetings and recent "walkabouts" carried out by ward councillors Lynne Joyce, John Prestage and Steve Thomas.

Many concerns focussed on the look of the area and the state of roads, pavements and street lamps.

Cllr Thomas said it would not work like the SRB partnership. "The key is local people - getting them actively involved in working towards the neighbourhood they want in the years to come."

A meeting will be held later this month where interested people and organisations can sign up for the partnership.

In September an open event will allow people to have their say about local problems and put forward ideas to solve them.

The council's cleansing team promised to join the partnership and as a gesture of goodwill this week blitzed the area with street-cleaning vehicles.

The Primary Care Group and Health Action Team, which provide local health care, have already pledged support.

Leading local youth worker Carol Bywater, who runs a group for Bangladeshi girls in the area, has offered extra help.