Almost half the money given to Keighley projects through the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund 12 months ago is "missing".

But Bradford council paymasters say they are not worried about the £147,000 currently unaccounted for. They are confident they will soon learn exactly how the money has been spent on the 17 regeneration schemes.

All but three organisations given money in January 2002 have reported spending in line with their original forecasts.

Keighley Area Committee -- made-up of Bradford councillors representing Keighley -- last January approved almost £311,000 of NRF grants.

More than 80 local organisations applied for cash for education, crime, health, employment and housing projects. The area committee this week heard that the council had so far handed-over £304,300 to the 17 successful organisations.

They include police, schools, health agencies and residents' groups in Stockbridge, Haworth, Bracken Bank, Long Lee and Eastwood.

Council officer Mujeeb Ahmed, in a report to the committee, said some of the groups had to spend several months setting up their new projects.

He said: "Projects are making progress towards pre-determined milestones after an expected slow start. Progress reports in December indicated that expenditure is progressing generally in line with forecasts."

All the projects are strictly monitored, with regular reports and visits by council officers.

The council hopes all 17 projects will spend their entire grants by the end of March, with monitoring and receipts to follow soon after.

Mr Ahmed, speaking to the committee this week, said more spending had been accounted for in Keighley than in other parts of the district.

The Neighbourhood Renewal Fund money comes from the government as part of its £22 million injection for Bradford district over three years.