NICE townsfolk have helped a Keighley funeral director’s appeal to feed people in need at Christmas.

Businesses, groups and individuals donated food as part of the Nice To Be Nice campaign run over the past few weeks by Melia Powell Family Funeral Care.

Rachel Melia-Marsden, operations planning manager with Melia Powell, was delighted with the response when she approached a host of organisations before Christmas.

She said: “It’s been a huge success with both individuals and groups of people donating.

“We have divided the donations up and are passing them on to the Salvation Army for their food bank stock, Living Lights, and St Pio Friary in Bradford who run a soup kitchen.”

Among those donating were Keighley Scouts and Guides, Keighley’s B&M store, Parkside Social Club in Haworth, Exley Head Pre-School, and Keighley Rock Choir.

St Pio Friary in Bradford was founded in 2005 when, at the invitation of Bishop Roche of Leeds, the Franciscan friars moved to the inner city of Bradford. The small community of bearded friars originated in New York.

In Bradford, the the men set out to serve the homeless and destitute of the city and to work for the renewal of the Catholic faith throughout the diocese.

They carry out their evangelism work through parish missions, school visits, youth events, bible studies, prayer meetings and street walks.

The friars run a daily soup kitchen called Open Doors which now feeds up to 200 people a week, as well as a sandwich service and addiction and recovery groups. About 40 people each day join the friars in prayers.

Living Lights Christian Outreach is a registered charity dedicated to tackling food and fuel poverty, poor housing conditions and homelessness.

Set up in Keighley in October 2012, it is based at the Nazarene Church in Oakworth Road, and hands out emergency food bags and bedding to deprived local people.