A charity linked to a mosque in Showfield has revealed it plans to buy one of the two disused former Keighley College buildings in the town centre.

A spokesman for the group this week confirmed that the local charity, which works closely with the Muhammadi Mosque, in East Avenue, intends to buy the Cavendish Street building, which has been empty for four years.

"We want to use it for a social enterprise project with an educational focus, and we'll be revealing more details when we can," he added.

The plans have provoked contrasting reactions from councillors, ranging from enthusiastic support to fears that the scheme will scupper any prospect of the site being used to boost local retail.

Councillor Andrew Mallinson, a member of Keighley Area Committee and the Town Centre Association, said: "An educational facility is not what the town needs at the current time. I don't believe it is the best possible use of the building.

"This is probably a once in a lifetime opportunity to develop something very unique for Keighley town centre's retail sector, something which would help all businesses by increasing footfall.

"I'm contacting the chairman of the Keighley Area Committee and asking for a report on this issue to be brought before the committee as a matter of urgency.

"I do understand that there will be some commercial confidentiality, but this should not stop politicians from taking the right decision for the good of Keighley.

"What we need is a debate and an open discussion on the destiny of the town centre.

"We have an opportunity to inject more retail into the centre, rather than having another educational facility."

However, Keighley Central Ward councillor Abid Hussain said he backed the proposed use of the property.

"I fully support it, this building has been left empty long enough," he said.

"If someone is going to come along and spend money on the building and make sure it is a facility for the community then that would be an excellent initiative."

Fellow ward councillor Khadim Hussain said he had heard that a prospective purchaser was interested in the Cavendish Street property, but had not known who the buyer was.

"If this building is going to be put to good use then that is good news," he added.

"And if it is something that focuses on young people and complements Keighley's educational infrastructure I would support that.

"But it must be something which acknowledges Keighley's diversity and ensures that everyone is welcome. If it is confined to one group that would be against the ethos of cultural diversity and cohesion which we're trying to build in Keighley."

Both the Cavendish Street building and the nearby former college premises at the junction of Cavendish Street and North Street are currently owned by Bradford Council. They have been derelict since 2010.