A horse and a lion are being bought for Keighley groups by Bradford councillors.

They are giving Haworth Riding for the Disabled a £350 grant towards the cost of a horse.

A further £250 is being given to Keighley Gala organisers to buy a Chinese lion for this year's procession.

The two groups are among 32 across Keighley, Ilkley and surrounding villages sharing in £7,070 from Keighley Area Committee. The spring payout means more groups than ever before have been awarded grants through the committee's Community Chest.

Almost 40 groups had asked for a total of £17,151 from the remaining in the 2003/2004 fund.

The committee, Bradford's local decision-making body, had to give smaller grants to most groups to spread the cash as widely as possible.

The area committee has around £21,000 each year to support sporting, cultural, community and leisure activities across the Keighley constituency.

Groups can receive up to £500, with particular emphasis going on previously unfunded groups, and projects tackling deprivation and disadvantage.

Other successful groups are: Salvation Army, charity shop equipment, £100; Ukrainian Women's Organisation, catering equipment, £250; Dance for Life, project costs, £250; LOWLATA (West Lane Tenants), start-up costs, £100; Keighley Voluntary Services, overhead projector, £200; Eastwood Walking Group, fleece jackets, £200; Hainworth Wood line dancing, project costs, £100; Showfield Action Group, start-up costs, £350; Keighley Comets Majorettes, uniform costs, £200; Life Skills Group (Disabled People's), art materials, £170; Keighley Disabled People's Centre, fax/answer machine, £100; Bramble Hedge Playgroup, new toys, £100; Keighley Cougar Cubs, new kit for girls team, £200; Asian Women's Centre, walking group project, £200, domestic violence project, £150; Highfield Women's Group, start-up costs, £350; Lund Park Community Group, park activities, £250; INCA Arts, start-up costs, £350; Small World arts group, slide projector, £250; Haworth Fair Trade, artist materials, £250; Keighley Amateur Rugby League Club, rugby balls, £200; Fell Lane Group, project costs, £250; Keighley Citizen's Advice Bureau, colour printer, £250; Powerful Whispers, Inter-national Women's Day, £200; Airedale Writers Circle, children's writing competition, £150; Braithwaite and Guard House Community Assoc-iation, health awareness, £250.