The future of Keighley's popular Cliffe Castle nursery is in the balance.

Bradford Council this week confirmed that the project, which provides invaluable training for people with learning disabilities, is under review.

The nursery shop sells a similar range of goods to garden centres and has built up a loyal clientele. But its manager Madeline Mason is taking early retirement this autumn, and that coupled with the expiry earlier this year of Single Regeneration Budget funding has cast a question mark over its continued operation.

Avril Austerberry, manager of Bradford Council's access and employment services unit, said: "The manager at Cliffe Castle nursery is retiring later this year and we have informed the two members of staff that we will be reviewing the situation regarding the future of the shop.

"SRB funding for the nursery ran out at the end of March and the council continues to fund the nursery shop through the Industrial Services Group, which is part of the local authority and employs over 60 disabled people from throughout the district in a range of jobs."

Councillor Simon Cooke, the council's executive member for the economy, praised the work of the nursery and said he hoped the facility would not be lost.

He told us: "We are looking at making sure there is a sustainable future for the nursery but at the same time asking questions about the extent to which it is delivering what it was established to do.

"There are all sorts of issues which need to be considered as part of the review and it is likely to be some weeks before any decisions are made. Personally I have used the nursery shop on several occasions and have always been impressed with the quality of the plants. We want to build on what has been achieved."

Madeline Mason - who has been at the nursery for over three years - is taking early retirement in October. She wishes to spend more time with husband John, who has retired from his job as a design manager in the machine tool industry. He has been a keen voluntary supporter of the nursery, with his roles including that of Santa.