STEAM train enthusiasts in Keighley are really chuffed with the support they're receiving from their local MP.

Robbie Moore has promised to support the town's heritage railway organisations at a regional and national level.

Mr Moore made the pledge when he attended the launch of a vintage bus service by the Ingrow-based Bahamas Locomotive Society.

Members of the voluntary-run group were delighted that Mr Moore stayed on to ride the open-top bus for its entire journey around Bronteland.

The Bahamas Society runs a museum at Ingrow railway station and has restored several historic trains including the mighty Bahamas steam locomotive.

Bahamas chairman Keith Whitmore said Mr Moore was going to join the All Parliamentary Heritage Railway Group which works closely with restored railway lines across the country.

He has also agreed to meetings with MPs from Heywood and Bury to discuss joint support for the Bahamas Society, Keighley and Worth Valley Railway and the East Lancs Railway.

Mr Whitmore added: "Mr Moore also asked us to meet to discuss future support and ideas for our education work. He was so supportive about what we've been doing."

Mr Whitmore said the two heritage railways had much in common, including a shared history from the days of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway covering both the Bradford and Manchester areas.

He said: "The two railways are slightly different to other heritage railways in that we are both on the urban fringes rather than only in the countryside."

The two organisations plan to work together to commemorate a series of railway centenary is over the next three years, including the merging of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway with the London and North West Railway in 1922.

Mr Whitmore added: "It was good to have a conversation with Robbie. His membership of the All Parliamentary Heritage Railway Group will be beneficial."

The Parliamentary group, and the Lancshire/Keighley MPs' group, will address concerns such as the impact of Covid-19, and law changes whic could massively increase the cost of buying called for steam locomotives.

Mr Whitmore said: "Robbie was very concerned about the coal and said it was something he wanted to help with."

The vintage bus service has been introduced to ferry people between Oxenhope and Haworth railway stations, the top of Haworth, and the two railway museums at Ingrow. KWVR trains are currently only stopping Keighley and Oxenhope stations as part of Covid-19 measures.

Mr Whitmore said: "The bus has been a tremendous success so far with good numbers travelling from Haworth to Ingrow. There was a queue outside the museum because of distancing on two occasions when the bus arrived."