The Keighley district’s historic identity was showcased to local people and visitors in the town centre at the weekend.

This year’s Keighley Heritage Day saw a range of activities and exhibitions staged in Church Green, the library and the town hall.

On Church Green people took advantage of the sunshine to watch a dry stone walling demonstration, and viewed stands highlighting other traditional crafts such as blacksmithing and joinery.

Bradford Council conservation officers were available to explain the Keighley Townscape Heritage Initiative - a £2.7 million scheme to help landlords repair and improve properties in and around North Street, High Street, Church Street, Low Street and Bridge Street.

Another Church Green stand was manned by members of West Yorkshire Bat Group, and there was a lively arts and crafts session for youngsters run by the Keighley Play Rangers team.

Part of the heritage day on Saturday took place in Keighley Local Studies Library.

The session was arranged by Bradford Council and included stands, exhibitions and assistance for people wanting to research their family history.

People looked at display boards erected by a variety of groups, including Keighley Local History Society, Keighley Family History Society, Bradford Historical and Antiquarian Society, Bangladeshi Community Association, the Sangat Centre and Oakworth History Society.

Visitors learned about the campaign to save Steeton’s pill boxes and the history of Royal Yorkshire Lodge 265.

Other exhibitions in the library included the Cottingley Village History Society, featuring new material connected to the ‘Cottingley Fairies’, Keighley Schools Heritage Group, with displays about Keighley Boys' and Girls' grammar schools, and the Men of Worth project, which aims to commemorate residents of Keighley and the Worth Valley who served the country in times of war.

Keighley Town Council took part by opening up parts of the town hall and the new civic centre to visitors.

Members of the public found out more about both buildings, enjoyed refreshments in the town hall’s Brigg Room, viewed Keighley’s civic regalia and listened to talks delivered by costume historian Gillian Stapleton and local historian Ian Dewhirst.

They met the town mayor and mayoress, and were offered tours on an open-top bus run by the town council and Keighley Bus Museum Trust.

Other heritage activities included guided walks in Cliffe Castle Park, a vintage bus display at Keighley Campus Leeds City College and an open day at Keighley Shared Church.