A former tenant of Keighley Civic Centre – run by the town council – has been charged with assaulting a councillor.

Grant Doyle, of Airedale View in Cross Hills, is due to appear at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates’ Court on Monday morning.

It follows an alleged incident in North Street, Keighley, on September 19, involving him and town councillor, Graham Mitchell.

When contacted by the Keighley News on Tuesday, Mr Doyle said he would be contesting both the assault charge and one of committing a public order offence, and intends to plead not guilty.

Coun Mitchell represents Oak-worth ward on the council, and is chairman of the watch and transport committee. He has been on the council since it was founded in 2002. He is also a long-standing member of Keighley Bus Museum Trust.

A Bradford and Keighley Magi-strates’ Court spokesman confirmed this week Mr Doyle had been charged with an offence of assault by beating, and with using threatening and abusive language with intent to cause fear.

Mr Doyle, who works as a property agent, previously occupied part of the North Street civic centre for his business, which was then called Property 28 but has since been rebranded as Keighley Property Group.

No one from Keighley Town Council’s office was available for comment when contacted by the Keighley News earlier this week.