A pioneering forum established to boost business in Thornton held its first meeting yesterday.

About 20 business owners attended a breakfast seminar at the Ring O'Bells pub.

Plans to boost trade in the village were discussed at the event hosted by the Thornton Futures Partnership.

Thornton is one of 11 Urban Villages which received £75,000 from Bradford Council last year to improve recreation facilities, the environment, traffic, transport, health and youth services.

Thornton councillor Michael McCabe said: "We decided to hold a business seminar to gauge interest from businesses in the area.

"We are looking at several areas we can help develop including regeneration, tourism and arts and leisure.

"Expert speakers in each area were invited to talk.

"In the tourism sector for example, we are looking at making the most of the Sustrans' cycle trail which runs from Queensbury to Cullingworth and the fact that Thornton was in fact the birthplace of the Bronte sisters.

"We will look at what we can do to link up with Haworth."

Thanks to the forum, plans are now afoot to hold a summer gala in the village next July.

The Thornton business forum will meet again in January next year on a date to be fixed.