MAJOR refurbishment work is being carried out at a Keighley community centre.

Extensive repairs and upgrades will help ensure the future of the Sangat Centre, in Marlborough Street.

Some structural work including the partial replacement of the roof, and the installation of a new floor and heating system, is already complete.

Now the electrics are being upgraded, a new mezzanine level constructed and toilets renovated.

Funding for the project has included £230,000 from the Government-financed Keighley Towns Fund, and £140,000 from the Community Ownership Fund.

Centre manager, Riasat Ali, says: "Previously the building needed constant repairs and we were continually having to patch up leaks as well as dealing with ongoing heating, boiler and electrical issues.

"We're very grateful for the funding, which means we can do the work in one go rather than piecemeal, and we’ve been using local tradespeople to put the money back into the area."

A wide range of services is offered from the centre, including social day care, adult education and youth activities, and holiday play schemes.

Liz Barker, acting chair of the Keighley Towns Fund board, says: "This renovation means the Sangat Centre can function more efficiently and effectively for the people it serves."