A community garden project could collapse within months if volunteers fail to raise £6,000 immediately.

The Hall Cliffe Community Garden, planned for a derelict former school playground in the centre of Baildon, has been awarded 90 per cent of a £66,000 works cost by the Countryside Agency. But the volunteers need to raise the rest of the money - ten per cent - by the end of August.

If the money is not raised and "creation works", planned for this year, are not completed then the grant offer will be withdrawn - and there is no option to re-apply.

The creation works for the site in the first year include removing the hard surface - which will cost around £20,000 - and the hard landscaping of raised flowerbeds and paths.

Julia Donoghue, secretary of the garden committee, said: "We can't finalise the grant from the Countryside Agency until we get match funding.

"The garden project will succeed or fail on our ability to get £6,000 by August."

Mrs Donoghue has applied to various funding bodies including HSBC, Kelda and B&Q for match-funding but cash has not been forthcoming as these organisations have been overwhelmed by thousands of other applications. The only option left for the garden volunteers is to approach the local community and businesses for donations.

"It's an impossible situation," said Mrs Donoghue.

"We had thought that we could raise a proportion of the costs each year over a three-year period but it now appears that we must raise all the match-funding of £6,000 before we can even start the project.

"We hope the local community will be generous and help us to get the community garden started as soon as possible."

The committee has already carried out a community consultation exercise, employed a consultant and had plans professionally drawn up.

Brad-ford Council has granted a 25-year lease for the site on a peppercorn rent and planning permission has been applied for.

"All the work over the last 18 months will be wasted unless the local community are able to contribute the cash now," said Mrs Donoghue. "It would only take 600 people to give £10 each and we would be able to start work immediately."

Any individuals or businesses who would like to help are asked to contact treasurer Richard Freeman on (01274) 530383. Cheques and donations can be sent to him at 19 Ashfield Drive, Baildon, BD17 6JE or he can be e-mailed at freemanrc@blueyonder.co.uk