IMPROVEMENTS to the canal towpath between Silsden and Kildwick will help "level up" the North, says Keighley MP Robbie Moore.

He claims the £500,000 project will not only benefit local walkers and cyclists but will contribute to the UK's economic recovery after coronavirus.

He said the funding, part of the Government's £900 million Getting Building Fund, showed Prime Minister Boris Johnson's commitment to invest in infrastructure and communities.

Mr Moore said: "Levelling up between northern and southern parts of England was a key pledge during the 2019 General Election campaign.

"I’m really pleased that despite the challenges coronavirus has thrown at us we’re still able to deliver on these projects which will improve the local area, boost the economy and create more jobs.

“Through important funds such as this, we can future proof our towns with better, greener infrastructure, while also supporting jobs over the months and years ahead. This project will be great for improving pedestrian and cycling connectivity for our area, and will help pull visitors into Silsden."

The two-kilometre stretch of towpath from Silsden to the West Yorkshire boundary near Kildwick is seen as the last remaining stretch of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal that needs improving in order to create an easy route from Leeds city centre to the Yorkshire Dales.

Local councillors have been pushing for the stretch to be resurfaced, following similar improvements to the towpath on either side in recent years that led to increase in usage by walkers and cyclists.

Public funding for the towpath's completion appeared to be unavailable, until last week when the Government announced the project's inclusion in a £300 million Getting Building Fund package for West Yorkshire.

On the launch of the package, commenting, Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said: “As we get Britain building we are also laying the foundations for a green economic recovery by investing in vital infrastructure for local communities, creating jobs and building environmentally-friendly homes with a huge £1.3 billion investment announced today.

“This Government is determined to level up all parts of the country and this funding will not only give a much-needed boost to our economic recovery, it will help build the good quality, affordable homes the country needs.”