KEIGHLEY Furniture Project is still open despite a burglary earlier this summer, bosses have reassured in the face of closure rumours on social media.

And they are urging people to continue using the service to find much-needed second-hand furniture and electrical goods for their homes.

The project, based in Springfield Mill in Oakworth Road, is also looking for new board members.

Furniture Project spokesman Carol Wood said: “It seems that information on Facebook recently has confused our customers, many of whom thought the mill was closed after a burglary several weeks ago.

“We were closed for just half a day while police forensics staff did their stuff.

“So we now have furniture piling up for sale.”

Keighley Furniture Project has for many years taken donations of second-hand household items which are then resold to people on low incomes.

In May, burglars carried out an early morning raid and forced their way into Springfield Mill, stealing a till containing about £300.

Security camera footage picked up one or two shadowy images of hooded burglars in the yard outside the building, one carrying a shovel and wandering slowly around.

The burglars caused considerable damage by using the shovel and several other tools to smash their way into the property.

The raid took place at about 3.40am and the building’s caretaker arrived shortly afterwards after being alerted by the intruder alarm, but the criminals had already fled with the stolen cash.

The full cost of repairing the damage caused during the break-in has now been estimated at £2,000.

Ms Wood said the Furniture Project was now in a position to offer more electrical items than in recent months after employing an electrician to service or repair white goods it receives .

She said: “Our regular customers may have noticed that the supply of electrical items has been lower than usual lately.

“We are delighted to announce that we have taken on a new electrician who will be dedicated to raising the output of white goods.”

Keighley Furniture Project is looking for new board members to help run the organisation.

She said: “It might be people who may have recently retired and are looking for something interesting to be involved in.

“Board meetings are held every four to six weeks and there are sub-committees on finance and human resources.

“We own our large mill building and we have multiple other organisations as tenants.”

Anyone interested in joining the board has been urged to get in touch with the charity and they will be given a tour of the mill building to see for themselves how the charity works and meet its staff.

They should call 01535 601999 or write to Springfield Mill, Oakworth Road, Keighley BD21 1SL.