A KEIGHLEY special school will benefit from the proceeds of a building theatre group’s 75th celebration event.

Westgate Drama Group Baildon raised £700 for Beechcliffe School during two performances last year.

One show featured excerpts from plays that had been performed by the group over the past seven decades, while the other was a Murder Mystery Dinner.

The group chose the school to benefit because the first performers came together in 1940 to raise money for a local cause, and fundraising has been central to their activities since.

Members annually choose a group to be supported throughout the year.

Anthea Petts, chairman of Westgate Drama Group, said: “Although we are a small group, part of our ethos for the past 75 years has been to try to give financial support to various charities.

“We are delighted that in 2015 our Murder Mystery Evening and our special 75th Anniversary celebration helped us to raise £700, our largest amount yet, for our charity Beechcliffe Special School Keighley.

“We have been privileged to visit the school and have been so impressed by the dedication of all staff who work so hard to support children with difficulties and give them the best possible start in life."

Beechcliffe School, based on the same campus as University Academy Keighley, caters for 110 pupils aged 11 to 19 years who have a wide range of Special Educational Needs.

Pupils attending the school have a range of disabilities, including complex medical, behavioural, learning, physical and sensory needs.

Vicki Street, trustee of the Friends At Beechcliffe, said: “The school's charity, Friends At Beechcliffe, have been working hard over the past year to fundraise for a new minibus and sensory room for the school, and the generous donation from Westgate Drama Group is a real boost to our fundraising efforts."