Skipton'S Meals on Wheels service needs a miracle if it is to continue its 50-year service providing hot meals to local elderly people.

The problem is not a lack of volunteers, but somewhere and someone to cook between 40 and 50 meals twice a week.

The popular service will be forced to fold mid-June if a kitchen cannot be found.

In the last 10 years the venue has been moved six times because of various problems.

The meals have been made at Raikeswood Hospital, Skipton General, Aireville School, a bed and breakfast establishment, Ashfield residential home and most recently, Spoilt for Choice, on Sackville Street.

When Ashfield had to stop preparing the meals last year because of a shortage of staff, Priscilla and Stewart Gwinnett, at Spoilt for Choice, stepped in on a temporary three week basis - with occasional help from Eastwoods fish and chip shop.

Six months on, other commitments mean they have finally been forced to step down.

Meals on Wheels co-ordinator Helen Hartley, who received an MBE for her dedication to the service this year, has been unable to find a successor and has now launched a last ditch appeal.

Meals on Wheels provide about 50 local elderly people with a freshly cooked hot meal every Monday and Thursday.

A team of 40 volunteers deliver the food and stop for a chat with the recipient - often being the only company that person has all day. Occasionally the volunteers have visited elderly people who have been ill or fallen, and have been able to raise the alarm.

"It's like a holiday for them on a Monday and Thursday. They will miss not getting a hot meal and nearly all my people have a laugh and a joke with them," said Mrs Hartley.

She said Social Services would have to pick up some of the work if Meals on Wheels folded, to ensure those people who could not cook for themselves did receive a meal. However, the Social Services meals are delivered frozen.