HAWORTH is famous worldwide as the home of the Brontes.

People flock to the village from across the globe to visit the parsonage where the siblings lived and wrote their classic works, and to walk on the moors that inspired them.

But another venue in the district is hoping to become a more prominent feature on the 'Bronte tourist trail'.

Plans have been put forward to transform the Thornton terrace house where the children were born into a community facility and holiday lets.

Patrick and Maria Bronte moved to the house in 1815, with their two infant children, Maria and Elizabeth.

The family soon expanded, with Charlotte, Branwell, Emily and Anne all born in the property.

They moved to Haworth Parsonage in 1820.

Campaigners launched a bid last year to bring the Thornton house into community ownership.

Now the group has submitted a planning application to Bradford Council to create space for workshops, events and visits by schools and literary groups.

The scheme would also see the property's bedrooms restored to how they'd have looked during the family’s time there, and converted into holiday lets.

Income from the lets would help pay for the building's upkeep.

The property has been run as a small museum in the past, but has spent much of its recent history in private ownership.

Latterly it has operated as a cafe, but the building is currently for sale.

The group behind the Bronte Birthplace plans is attempting to raise enough cash to take on the property and ensure it remains a place the community can enjoy.

A spokesperson says: "This is an extremely significant Grade II*-listed heritage building, yet over the last 35 years it has changed hands frequently.

"If it is to gain its rightful place in the history of this unique literary family, then it does now need to start enjoying the sort of stability already enjoyed by the likes of the Bronte Parsonage Museum in Haworth.

"The proposed provision of ground-floor facilities to host events, workshops, outreach projects, school visits, and art and literary groups celebrating the Bronte legacy will be financed by the existing cafe and restaurant and the holiday lets.

"Our vision is that the Bronte Birthplace has the potential to put Thornton more prominently on the tourist map.

"For visitors and local people it will add another dimension to the story of the Bronte family in the Bradford district."