Budding sleuths will get the chance to quiz ‘murder suspects’ locked in the cells at Keighley police museum.

Actors have been recruited to play suspects in a series of murder mysteries to be held at the former police station at the Civic Centre in North Street.

School students and members of the public will join in the whodunnits – interrogating the actors and carrying out forensic science investigations.

Keighley town council, which owns the centre, commissioned actor Aidey Pugh who has more than 25 years’ experience of organising whodunnits, to produce the new murder mysteries.

He said: “The murder mystery part of the students’ experience at the museum is designed to develop team-building, communication and presentation skills. “The students interrogate the actors who play murder suspects being held in cells.”

Auditions were held last month and attracted 50 actors in the Keighley, Bradford and Leeds areas.

The successful actors have appeared in TV series including Casualty, Emmerdale , Coronation Street, Waterloo Road and Shameless, Mr Pugh said.

At least one had experience of life behind bars – after appearing in the prison drama Bad Girls.

Mr Pugh said: “They also have an in-depth knowledge of Theatre in Education and Youth Theatre projects which will prove invaluable when working with the students.”

Keighley Town Council opened the Civic Centre earlier this year after the former police building underwent a £1million revamp.

It now includes a police museum with displays in the old cells, crime recreations and a Victorian street scene.

There is also a forensic laboratory where school groups can carry out CSI-style educational activities.

Dates for the events have not been released as yet.