Council chiefs will be asked to throw a £20,000 lifeline to a struggling youth club which is in danger of folding after nearly 100 years.

The Sedbergh Youth and Community Centre in Huddersfield Road, Odsal, urgently needs cash to repair its roof and enable it to stay in business while it applies for grants.

The centre, formerly Sedbergh Boys' Club, was originally set up as a charity by Sedburgh School to help underprivileged youngsters.

It is still fulfilling a need by hosting sports and other activities seven days a week.

But since Council funding dried up six years ago it has led an increasingly hand-to-mouth existence and the volunteers running it fear it could go under.

Now, their last-ditch funding plea is to be considered as a high priority by the Council's ruling Executive committee at its next meeting.

Chris Graham, chairman of the voluntary committee running the centre, said: "We have a leaking roof and are not sure it will survive another winter.

"Since 1906, Sedbergh Boys Club has been delivering positive activity for young people in Bradford.

"We got Council funding until 1997/8 but since then, as we are not in an area designated as having 'great need' we don't get the funding.

"Sedbergh is a charity, originally founded by Sedbergh School, and we have been relying on the Sedbergh Trust Fund, but there's nothing left in the pot. It would be really nice if the Council could assist us in the short term."

Supporter and ward Councillor Dave Green (Lab, Odsal) said: "The group needs short term immediate help to carry out work to make the building secure.

"They are almost all volunteers and members are paying out of their own pockets to keep it going."

Councillor Malcolm Sykes, chairman of the education scrutiny committee, which is backing the request, said: "We do have to be careful we don't set a precedent so every organisation in Bradford who think they're under-funded will start knocking on our door for brass.

"This can be seen as a special case as it fits with the Council's community cohesion agenda and our corporate priorities."

Experts in voluntary sector funding, who work in the Council's arts, heritage and leisure department are assisting the club in drawing up funding applications to secure its medium and long term future.