A charity helping some of the city's poorest people is set to open a new trading centre dealing in second-hand furniture.

Growing charity Christians Against Poverty, based in Bradford, wants to distribute furniture by selling it cheaply to low-income families.

Every penny of any trading profits will be used to further the work of the charity.

People who are very hard up will be given items for free.

The project is the brainchild of director John Kirkby.

"Having worked with 160 families in Bradford, CAP realised that the real needs of people were not clothing, which they can get from the many good charity shops. What they really need are washers, cookers, three-piece suites and beds."

Now CAP is appealing to the people of Bradford for help to turn the dream into reality.

What CAP needs is a ground-floor showroom to rent for storing, reconditioning and selling the items of furniture.

Mr Kirkby said: "There must be empty premises in Bradford which we could use. From the landlord's point of view at least they would be occupied and kept clean and they will be doing good and enjoying some great PR."

Second-hand furniture will come from individuals' donations and several big Bradford firms have pledged to help supply the charity by giving away customers' unwanted quality second-hand furniture and white goods when they deliver new items.

The charity's idea was greeted with enthusiasm by Ken Smith, 49, a fellow member of the Christian Life Church in Saltaire, who lives with his wife and two children in Shipley.

He promptly gave up his job as a supervisor at a telecommunications company to run the scheme called CAP Trading.

"John came up with this idea and straight away I knew it was where I should be going. I have changed jobs 15 times in my life-time and this was the only one where I have not been worried," he said.

He hopes the centre will also be used as a training ground for the long-term unemployed as a way of easing them back into the work environment.

Anyone who wants to help is asked to write to Christians Against Poverty, Freepost NEA 3201, Bradford, BD7 1BR.

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