A HAWORTH church has embarked on a fundraising drive to collect enough cash to replace its worn out kitchen.

West Lane Baptist Church is hoping to be able to raise about £10,000.

The church's Reverend Chris Upton explained: "Our kitchen gets used so much by so many people that it is beginning to look and feel rather tired.

"It is about 20 years old and in the space of a week it can be used by two or three hundred people.

"It's not just the odd function it's needed for, there are Weight Watchers and Slimming World classes, yoga groups, lunch clubs, the Brontë Society, the Women's Institute as well as the parish council that make use of the kitchen.

"What we're after is a new kitchen that meets all modern standards, is efficient and easy to use and will last for another 20 years."

Rev Upton said the community is already rallying round to support the appeal.

Haworth-based historian Stephen Whitehead has offered to deliver a talk at the church, with funds raised from the event to go towards the planned new kitchen.

And Haworth's Kings Arms pub, which will be holding a race night in May, will donate the profits from this to the same cause.

Rev Upton said other individuals and organisations wishing to support the appeal can contact him by calling 07976 287117.

He said the overall church building had benefited from a major £300,000 refurbishment back in 1997/98

He added that people in Haworth have previously been very supportive, noting that last year's Co-op Community Fund selected the church as its beneficiary, providing nearly £1,000 for the building.

Mr Whitehead's talk takes place at 3pm on Saturday January 27 and is called The Last Brontë – the intimate memoir of Arthur Bell Nicholls.

Nicholls was the husband of Charlotte Brontë, and also served as one of Patrick Brontë's curates.

Mr Whitehead will be including readings from his new novel, and explaining why he put Nicholls at the centre of the Brontë story.

This author worked for the Brontë Parsonage Museum for 18 years, and has written widely on the famous literary family.

Entry to his talk will be by donation, and tea and cakes will be provided.