The credit crunch is forcing many more people to turn to Keighley Furniture Project for cut-price household goods.

But the charity has not seen a corresponding increase in the number of donations from local people.

Bosses have now issued an urgent appeal for more donations of second-hand furniture and electrical goods.

Ann Sheriff, the manager, said the number of donations had remained steady while demand had grown dramatically.

She said: “Times are hard. There is a genuine need.

“We’re getting people who have never been in this position. We have seen a fresh set of faces.”

Mrs Sheriff said Keighley people were very good about donating things and would rise to the occasion.

But she admitted: “People aren’t changing things in the home as often as they usually do.”

Mrs Sheriff said donations of large electrical items such as cookers and washers were particularly welcome.

“Electrical goods need to be in ‘nearly good’ working order,” she said. “We can do minor repairs. Furniture needs to be in a condition we can pass on to other people.”

The Furniture Project sells second-hand items at low cost to people on benefits. Items can be donated from Mondays to Thursdays (9am-3pm) at the project’s base, in Springfield Mills, on Oakworth Road.

The project will also collect large items from people’s homes free of charge, from Mondays to Fridays. The project can be contacted on 01535 601999.