KEIGHLEY'S civic leader has spoken to allay public fears following the fatal stabbing in the town centre.

Town mayor Coun Graham Mitchell said the incident had shocked the community.

But he added: "The fact that we are all so shocked shows just how rare this sort of thing is in Keighley.

"I want to reassure people that Keighley is still a very safe town."

His message is echoed by Coun Michael Westerman, chairman of the town council's watch and transport committee.

"We receive reports from the police every month and the level of crime in the town is falling," he said.

"This type of incident, tragic as it is, is basically unheard of in Keighley and we don't want the public to be alarmed.

"It would be wrong to speculate on what happened in this case but the thoughts of myself and my committee colleagues go out to the victim's family."

Many people voiced disbelief as news of the stabbing spread around the town on Sunday.

Streams of curious passers-by who stopped having seen the large area of Chapel Lane – close to busy North Street and High Street – cordoned off and guarded by police, were stunned when they learned what had happened.

District councillor Abid Hussain, whose Keighley Central ward includes the location, was travelling to London when he got a phone call from the police.

"I was shocked to hear what had happened," he said.

"They couldn't tell me a lot about the circumstances but it's a terrible thing.

"It is tragic for the whole community.

"The police let us know as ward councillors when anything like this happens in our area, and it is always a horrible experience to hear of such things."

His ward colleague, Coun Khadim Hussain, was also contacted by a police officer.

"Any loss of life is tragic and very sad but for someone only in their 20s to die in this sort of way is just awful," he said.

"My heartfelt condolences go out to the family of the dead man. You cannot imagine what they are going through.

"Our thoughts are also extended to the injured man.

"The police do an excellent job and if there is any way in which I can support them, I will."

The Chapel Lane area – which contains a mixture of homes, business premises and offices – was sealed off for the whole of Sunday.

A number of police officers and vehicles, including crime scene investigators and a scientific support unit, were at the scene.