A group of women hopes to be thrown a cash lifeline from the Millennium pot to save a centre from folding.

Keighley Women's Centre is facing closure even before it holds the official opening of its new base later this month.

It hit crisis point last month when members were told they would not be getting £52,000 from Bradford Council's community fund to pay for one full-time and two part-time workers.

The group was due to hold the official opening of its new base, in Skipton Road, later this month.

Now it has applied for £150,000 from the community involvement lottery fund and hopes for news about the bid by next month.

Centre manager Annette Dent said if they were successful, the cash would help to keep the doors open for three years.

"On £50,000 a year we can run along marvellously - we can limp along on £20,000.

"If we heard we could get £50,000 a year for the next three years, we would be delighted. It would be all singing and dancing.

"We are keeping our fingers crossed that our lottery bid will be a success. We expect to find out later this month or in February.''

Last year the group spent £190,000 buying and refurbishing the new base in an Edwardian terrace house in Skipton Road.

It received cash help from the Keighley Single Regeneration Board and the Government-funded English Partnerships.

But when Bradford Council refused to fund the workers, the group faced closure unless cash could be found elsewhere.

The centre opens five days a week and provides a number of projects.

They include a home safety scheme for young families and elderly people, a dementia project for carers and sitters, and various courses, including assertiveness and counselling.

An average 250 women a month use the centre but it is also open to men.

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