Historic building skills, restoration techniques and the local history of Keighley will all be showcased at a special event next month.

The Keighley Heritage Day on Saturday, September 8, will run from 10am until 4pm on Church Green.

Crafts such as gilding, blacksmithing, woodwork and stonemasonry will be demonstrated to visitors. In addition people will be given the opportunity to talk to the experts and learn about the traditional skills.

Bradford Council conservation officers will also be available to give advice about the Keighley Townscape Heritage Initiative.

The initiative is a £2.7 million grant scheme supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Council to help building owners repair and improve their property. The fund will be used for improvement to historic buildings within the area of North Street, High Street, Church Street, Low Street and Bridge Street.

As well as all the activities on offer, refreshments will be served throughout the day.

Councillor Val Slater , the Council’s Heritage Champion, said: “This heritage day will be a great chance to find out more about the historic buildings in Keighley and how the Townscape Initiative will provide a regeneration boost and transform the appearance of the town centre."

There are a number of other events taking place in Keighley on the same day including guided walks around Cliffe Castle Park, vintage bus tours around the town and an event in Keighley Town Hall, where visitors can view the Keighley town silver and listen to talks on 1940s and 1950s clothing by a costume historian in the council chamber.

In addition Bradford Environmental Action Trust will be at Keighley Library from 10am to 4pm with information about the Swartha Wood Project, a community history project taking place over the next two years. Activities will include archive research, archaeology and woodland management.