A 113-year-old club which was gutted by fire during the Bradford riots is struggling to find funds to complete its new building.

The Girlington and District Conservative Club building in Roundthorn Place, off Thornton Road, was destroyed after a petrol bomb was thrown through a window during the riots on July 7, 2001.

The building was left standing but beyond repair and spiralling insurance costs meant the club could not afford to rebuild on the same plot.

For more than six months members struggled to find an alternative location. But after the Telegraph & Argus highlighted its plight, a property agent came forward with a suitable site.

The new club meeting place is now being built next to Fairweather Green fire station in Thornton Road, at the junction with Leaventhorpe Lane, Leaven-thorpe.

The single-floor building will be 3,200 square feet and facilities will include a snooker room, lounge and bar, function room and kitchen.

But while the club was insured, the money is not enough to finish the new building.

The club needs an extra £65,000 to complete the project, which has cost more than £400,000.

David Parrott, president of the club, said the situation has occurred because the insurance company only paid out the money it would cost to rebuild on the old site, not the cost of building on the new site.

He said: "Up to this point we have funded everything ourselves.

"We have bought the snooker tables and the building price includes interior decoration. But there are a lot of additional costs such as architect's fees.

"We will get the building finished one way or another and we have some breweries interested.

"But it may involve a bank loan which will leave the club in debt."

Mr Parrott said he hopes the new building will be open soon as presently the group has nowhere regular to meet.

Around 30 members had been meeting at St William's Church Hall, Ingleby Road, Lidget Green, until it was damaged in a fire.

Mr Parrott added: "The club means a lot to our members.

"Many of them are elderly and have nowhere to go and have a natter."

Girlington and District Con-servative Club was founded in 1889 with 40 members and held meetings at Hoxton Street off Thornton Road, Bradford.

It moved to a site on nearby Roundthorn Place in September 1902. It currently has around 150 members.

The new building was due to be completed in February 2003 but the opening may now be delayed by a few weeks.