A KEIGHLEY community centre has vowed to fight to stay open.

Bosses at the Hainworth Wood premises say the "much loved and much improved" building is providing essential services to residents.

Community centres across Keighley, in some of the town's most deprived areas, are under threat as they have to compete for a share of a hugely-reduced Bradford Council budget.

And Keighley's three community development workers will lose their jobs in March.

Pastor John Smith, chairman of Hainworth Wood Community Centre, said he was "desperately sad" at the cuts.

And he urged people to make their views known to councillors.

"We are the only centre in the Keighley East ward," said Pastor Smith.

"Our manager and community development worker, Sonia Evers, has done a marvellous job developing the centre's facilities and the training of co-workers.

"Recently-acquired charity status has allowed us to improve facilities, making us an up to date centre for promoting harmony within the community – creating friendships whilst actively reducing social isolation, with new and improved opportunities for free training and internet access.

"We will continue to fight against these dreadful cuts and do all we can to remain open."

Pastor Smith said there was a huge range of provision at the centre, in Hainworth Wood Road.

Facilities include a drop-in service, meeting space, charity shop, uniform swap shop, work club and community cafe.

Events are staged, there are knitting and over-50s groups, activities for people with special needs, school holiday provision and training projects.

Also, support is provided on issues including poverty, debt, homelessness, substance addiction, reducing crime, improving educational achievement, youth topics, combating anti-social behaviour and improving the environment.

Bradford Council currently gives grants of about £4,000 a year to subsidise the running costs of community centres in areas like Hainworth Wood, Bracken Bank, Braithwaite, Highfield, Lawkholme and Knowle Park.

But the district-wide budget for such services will be slashed from £890,000 a year to £436,000 in April, with the Keighley constituency receiving just £64,000.

The council is planning £82 million in cuts to its overall budget over the next two years, with libraries, community halls and public toilets among other facilities being targeted.

A public consultation is currently underway.