Community groups have been thrown into crisis after Council bosses shut down Yeadon Town Hall because its electrical system isn't up to scratch.

The town hall was closed on Tuesday afternoon, forcing the cancellation of all events for the foreseeable future.

The surprise move, by Leeds City Council, came just days after it announced a £250,000 rewiring scheme for the 19th century building.

Now Council chiefs say the existing electrical system is too dangerous for the building to remain open and the closure is vital for public safety.

Three events have already been abandoned because of the last-minute decision, including a playgroup's Christmas party, a brass band concert due to be held last night and Yeadon Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society's carol concert this weekend.

Leeds City Council says it has notified all organisations about the closure and has offered to help make alternative arrangements.

A spokesman said: "We apologise for the fact that this closure will cause inconvenience but public safety is paramount. Consequently when we discovered the extent of the problem we had no alternative but to close the building.

"How long it will be closed is not at this stage known, but given its importance to the local community, every effort will be made to re-open it as soon as possible."

Yeadon Town Hall Pre-School group, which is caters for 65 youngsters aged between two and four and has a waiting list up to 2001, staged its Christmas party at the nearby Yeadon Methodist Church hall this morning.

And from January, while the town hall is closed, it is hoping to meet in an empty classroom at Southview Junior School.

Anne Speight, who runs the group with Susan Barker, said: "Obviously we don't want to be in the building with the children if it's not safe but we've had to move very quickly to find new premises for the party and next term and little bit more notice would have been nice."

Bryan Hutchinson, chairman of Yeadon Amateurs, said: "It is a shock because our Christmas carol concert has been held for 20 years. But if it is a decision that has been made for safety reasons then we don't want people to be at risk."

However, Richard Hughes-Rowlands, chairman of Yeadon Town Hall Users' Group - which days before had been celebrating news of the £250,000 boost - said the decision was terrible and shocking. "It is going to cause chaos for a number of organisations which use the hall," he said.

City councillor Moira Dunn (Lab, Aireborough) said: "I feel as if someone has punched me. The Town Hall is sacred to Yeadon people."

Jean Shaw, an official of Yeadon Charities' Association, said the future of its next pantomime - an annual event for 60 years - was now in jeopardy, threatening funds for the town's traditional old people's outing.

She said: "We are due to put on Aladdin in January and I just don't know what we are going to do. Wee put on our show to raise money for the annual old people's trip to the coast.

"We could ask if Guiseley Theatre is available, but we have sold 500 seats for each of the matinee performances and Guiseley Theatre cannot take that number."

But Mary Eggleston, secretary of Guiseley Amateur Operatic Society, said several groups had made inquires about hiring the theatre, including Aireborough Gilbert and Sullivan Society and Rawdon Amateur Operatic Society, for their productions. "The theatre committee is to consider their requests but a decision has yet to be made," she said.

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