AN OPINION poll in the Keighley parliamentary constituency has put Labour six per cent ahead of the Tories.

And the poll, conducted late last month by Conservative peer Lord Michael Ashcroft, places UKIP in third well ahead of the Liberal Democrats.

Of the 1,000 voters in the constituency – which includes Ilkley – who were questioned, 37 per cent said they would vote for Labour at next year's general election.

The Tories polled 31 per cent, UKIP 23 per cent, the Lib Dems five per cent, Greens three per cent and others one per cent.

John Grogan, who will contest the seat for Labour in May, said the survey was encouraging but he still expected the actual election result to be close.

"This is the best opinion poll for the Labour party of all the ones Lord Ashcroft has conducted in the Yorkshire marginals," he said.

But sitting Tory MP, Kris Hopkins, said the poll also showed that 58 per cent of those surveyed believed the economy would make life better for them and their families in the coming year.

"Because of the action the Conservative-led government has taken, the UK is forecast to be the fastest growing advanced economy in the world this year," he added.

Visit lordashcroftpolls.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Keighley-Full-tables-Oct-14.pdf for full details of the poll.