A campaigner has poured cold water on a plan to hand the running of Ilkley’s Manor House museum to volunteers.

Bradford Council has proposed to pull staff out of the museum and hand over its running to the community.

But Liz Bowen, of established support group the Friends of the Manor House, said they did not feel able to take it on.

At a meeting of the Council’s Executive yesterday, she added that “it was highly unlikely that a suitable volunteer group would come forward”, because of the level of responsibility involved in maintaining a Grade I listed building.

She praised the work of the Council staff at the Manor House, and said it was visited by schools from all over Bradford.

Councillor Susan Hinch-cliffe, executive member for culture, said: “The cuts are no reflection on the value or quality of these services. We know they are valuable, we know people enjoy them.”

Council leader Councillor David Green asked officers to draw up a report looking at all the possible options in more detail.

He said: “Hopefully we can find a way forward.”