RETIRED West Yorkshire police officer David Hardcastle will make an arresting sight when he appears in Keighley next month.

The former constable of two decades' service is giving a presentation in the town about the history of the force over a period of 120 years and more.

And he will be donning period uniform for the event.

Keighley and District Local History Society is staging the meeting, upstairs at the town's library on Wednesday, April 10.

Anyone is welcome to attend.

Mr Hardcastle delivers presentations as part of the West Yorkshire-based Mobile Police Museum.

He travels to venues with a collection of police exhibits – dating from the mid 1800s, through two world wars to modern times. Items include uniforms, head gear, handcuffs and truncheons, working police radios and other technology, equipment from the Second World War and modern riot gear.

He says: "My mobile museum is a place where there are no queues, no barriers, no glass cases and no signs that tell you not to touch.

"The presentation is designed to be both educational and fun. Everyone is encouraged to try the items, see how they feel and work, and even wear them!"

Tim Neal, for Keighley and District Local History Society, says: "David offers a light-hearted, unique and engaging presentation about the police service over the last 120 years or more.

"The talk is a little bit different. I’m not sure that in the 20 years the history society has been going we have ever had so many objects we can handle as part of a talk! It should be interesting and fun and well worth getting down to the library for."

The meeting is in the local studies library at Keighley Library, in North Street.

Doors open at 7pm, the meeting starts around 20 minutes later and the presentation will begin at 7.30pm. The meeting will finish at about 8.30pm. Anyone arriving after 7pm should use the library side entrance in Albert Street.

Admission is £3.50, or free to society members.

People wishing to join the society can pay in cash on the night. Membership for the rest of this year is £15, or £20 for a couple living at the same address.

Keighley and District Local History Society this year marks its 20th anniversary.

For further information about the organisation, visit keighleyhistory.org.uk

The society can also be found on Facebook – go to facebook.com/keighleyhistorysociety