KEIGHLEY'S police station is under threat of closure, we can reveal.

Force chiefs confirmed this week that the future of the headquarters, in Royd Ings Avenue, is being reviewed.

Shocked community leaders have vowed to fight any move to axe the facility.

Senior Keighley councillor Khadim Hussain, a member of the county police crime panel, said he would be urgently seeking answers.

Over a year ago, when the closure of the cells sparked fears about policing levels, he was given top-level assurances that provision in the town would be unaffected.

"I'm extremely concerned about this latest situation and will be raising the matter with urgency," said Cllr Hussain, chairman of Keighley Area Committee.

"It does nothing to improve public confidence in the police.

"Closure of the police station would leave the community quite vulnerable and I would fight hard against any such move."

Keighley MP Kris Hopkins also voices his opposition.

"A town of Keighley's size must retain its own police station," he said.

"It is still a very new facility, which is greatly valued by local residents and officers alike.

"Whilst the Police and Crime Commissioner's Labour party colleagues in City Hall like to regard Keighley as an outpost which can live off inner-Bradford's crumbs, I do not.

"Keighley police station must stay open."

Town mayor Councillor Graham Mitchell said it would be "unthinkable" for Keighley not to have the facility.

"Myself and colleagues fought unsuccessfully to keep the old North Street station open and when it closed we were assured that policing would remain in the town," he said.

"It is unthinkable that a town of about 60,000 people, plus those in the outlying villages, would not have a police station.

"My main concern is what will happen to all the 'foot soldiers', where will they be based?

"Currently you see PCSOs walking from Royd Ings Avenue into town and they provide a visible presence. Where will they go?"

West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Mark Burns-Williamson, said Keighley police station formed part of a wider review.

But he vowed no decision over its future had been made.

"With £163 million of Government cuts to the policing budget by 2017 substantial savings need to be found," he said.

"For police officers and staff to remain visible on our streets it is important to look at the ongoing costs of police buildings, but also how we can work smarter including with new technology, co-locating together with partners and continuing to provide an improving service to people in Keighley.

"Keighley police station is being looked at as part of this wider consideration as to how we deliver policing services in the future, but no decisions will be made until business cases have been fully considered and there has been consultation across our communities."