More than £3.4 million of government cash will be spent in Keighley over the next 12 months through the Single Regeneration Budget.

The money will go on a range of housing, health, education, community, anti-crime and business support schemes.

The town's SRB bosses met this month to thrash out a total budget for almost 70 schemes during the 2000-2001 financial year.

The government's Yorkshire Regional Development Agency will give £3,421,000, which will be boosted by millions more from Bradford council, businesses and voluntary groups.

The cash will be spent in the most deprived areas of Keighley, including the town centre, surrounding terrace streets and council estates such as Braithwaite, Bracken Bank and Woodhouse.

Millions of pounds have already been spent over the past three years on SRB schemes devised by residents and firms in the town.

More than £1 million of the 2000-2001 budget is earmarked on housing projects, including £575,000 for house improvements, £230,000 turning space above shops into flats, and £225,000 on new homes at Hillworth Lodge.

Up to £233,000 will be spent on successful reading support schemes for local youngsters, £90,500 on the Marlborough Street Training Centre and £68,000 for a Careers Classroom.

The Property Investment Fund, which provides grants for local shops and firms to set-up, expand or modernise, will be given £560,000.

Up to £125,000 is earmarked for town centre bus station improvements, £100,000 for the proposed Urban Zoo skateboard park and £30,000 for improving the Cavendish Street canopy.

Community projects due to receive grants include the Safe Rider women's bus service (£53,654), Motor Education Project (£25,000), Crime Prevention Fund (£46,600), Airedale Drug and Alcohol Agency (£25,115).

The total cost of the schemes agreed by the SRB Partnership Board for 2000-2001 is £3,561,634, about £140,000 more than the government will give.

But some projects may be postponed to allow others to go ahead within the budget.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.