A 19th Century religious centre and a popular footbridge have both picked up Ilkley Civic Society prizes.

The group has chosen Ilkley Friends' Meeting House, in Queen Street, and the Crumwheel suspension footbridge as winners of its 2001 annual design awards.

Built in 1869, the Meeting House has recently opened a £130,000 rear extension which has incorporated a host of innovative design ideas.

The bridge, meanwhile, a popular link for walkers moving between the town and Middleton Woods has been strengthened and re-painted by Brad-ford Council.

Chairman of the Society, Helen Kid-man, explained why these two projects had been singled out for praise.

"The thing that stands out with the Meeting House is the imaginative use of space," she said, "because they don't have much room and this work has used what is available very usefully.

"With the Crumwheel Bridge, it could have been allowed to deteriorate to such an extent that it was dismantled, which would have been a shame because it is a very useful bridge for pedestrians and we are all very fond of it.

"But I am delighted to say that the Council has done a very good, and tasteful job."

A lack of nominations in the previous year had meant the Society didn't make any awards for the 2000 competition.

This time, however, the group had plenty of projects to choose from and its judges heaped praise on the two winners.

Referring to the Meeting House extension, which was designed by Foxley Architects, they said: "This is a good example of a small, historic building where the use of space and natural light have been well-developed to enable its use for many different activities.

"An attractive and reflective atmosphere has been created through the use of colour and materials. The refurbishment has been achieved without changing the pleasant aspect of the meeting house as seen from Queen's Road."

The suspension bridge, meanwhile, received an even more glowing appraisal. It said: "When it emerged from its chrysalis of scaffolding, the bridge was painted in subdued colours which fit the scene, the old finials had been returned and the foot-way replaced with stout planking so that the bridge no longer wobbles!

"We are very pleased that this landmark has been made good for the future and that it will continue to give pleasant pedestrian access to the woods and hills beyond."

The Society will officially announce the awards, and present certificates to the winners, at its Annual General Meeting tonight.

Quaker David Hickson, treasurer of the Friends' Meeting House, will be among the guests. He said: "We were amazed to receive this award, because it never entered our heads that the extension would even be thought of in those terms.

"We were particularly surprised because we have had an unchanged faade since the 1860s, and all the work was done at the back of the building.

"But that was what they were interested in, and a lot of the credit must go to the architects who have created a social room with a highly modern kitchen, given our interior a very attractive, contemporary look and added really inventive touches to give us more space."

Previous winners have included Booths supermarket and Betty's Caf, for the refurbishment of its shop front.

Nominations for the 2002 awards can be made by anyone in the local community, by contacting the Civic Society, up until February 28, 2003.