A refuge for the homeless will have to fold next month unless urgent repairs are carried out on the church hall where it is based.

Launched at Christmas 2001, the Place at St Mary's opens on Fridays and Bank Holidays throughout the year and was the only venue in Bradford to provide round-the-clock shelter over Christmas.

The refuge provides a safe, supportive social meeting place for people excluded from mainstream society.

Most are homeless, living in poor accommodation, lonely, depressed, with mental health or drink problems. Around 40 people visit the weekly drop-in, based in a hall next to St Mary's Church at Barkerend.

A team of volunteers serve tea, coffee and food. The refuge has no funding and relies entirely on donations of cash, food and clothing. The church provides the hall and heating free of charge.

But the poor state of the hall means the refuge is in crisis.

"Following a meeting at St Mary's, at which the Buildings Inspector for the Diocese was present, is was noted that due to the parish hall's poor state of repair and fittings it was potentially unfit for any public gatherings," said co-ordinator Dr Jackie Hughes. "Unless work is now undertaken to ensure the basic safety of the building, the Place at St Mary's will have to cease operating from the end of April.

"This is a tragedy for the many people who make use of this facility. It provides a valuable and much-appreciated venue for those who are homeless and otherwise excluded from mainstream society.

"This exclusion is for a variety of reasons. Many people have lost husbands, wives, friends; they live in poor quality, unsafe accommodation; they drink. Depression goes hand in hand with all that. It's very hard to find work and somewhere decent to live when you have that kind of life history." The refuge team is currently working out how much is needed for repairs.

Dr Hughes said that in the 15 months the refuge has been running it has "gradually built upon a spirit of friendship and community, providing a safe place of shelter".

"It has inspired many service-users to contribute to art exhibitions and music evenings," he said. "Our primary aim is to restore a sense of self-worth, purpose and wellbeing."

Anyone who would like to help can contact Dr Hughes on 07815 589856, email jackiehughes@ntlworld.com, or write to The Place at St Mary's, St Mary's Church, 142 East Parade , Bradford BD1 5EE.