Messages of sympathy and support have been flooding into the offices of Keighley Community Transport in the wake of an arson attack two weeks ago.

An appeal launched in the Keighley News last week has already seen donations of over £400 made to the organisation since last Friday.

The blaze, started by vandals at KCT's premises in Holycroft Street, Keighley, destroyed two buses, used to transport various groups, including elderly and disabled people, and has left resources desperately over-stretched and facing cutbacks.

KCT co-ordinator Steve Shorten said: "We have had a lot of people ringing up asking where they can send donations.

"We have had £426 in so far. We are delighted with the response we have had from the public."

He added: "It's not just the money but there have been a lot of people just ringing up to say they were sorry to hear about the buses.

"One man rang and wanted us to give him copies of the accounts.

"We are still very disappointed that we are having to turn people down, but we are struggling on as best we can."

News of the fire has even travelled to the other side of the world where KCT driver Arthur Trower is on holiday Down Under.

Steve added: "He sent an e-mail from Australia. He likes to keep up with the Keighley News and he'll have seen it on the Internet.

"He said he was sorry to hear about the fire and he hoped he will have a bus to drive when he gets back."

The organisation has received a gift of £31 and a touching message of support from pupils at a special school.

The children of class seven at Braithwaite School wrote letters to the KCT co-ordinator and donated the money they had been raising from the sale of Christmas cards.

They said: "We were very upset to hear the news about the community bus fire.

"We feel very angry and sad. We would like to offer our support for your service by making a donation to your minibus appeal.

"We have been making and selling Christmas cards and would like to make a gift from our profit.

"We hope our gift will help towards the cost of replacing your bus."

Bradford Council could also come to the rescue with the possibility that it might help KCT by providing a bus.

Steve said: "A man from social services rang up last Friday morning. He said there were some buses that had come back in from lease.

"He wanted to see the response we got from the public before he made a decision, but asked if we were interested.

"I said I would be interested if the price was right. He told me it would definitely be right and said there was a chance they would be funded anyway."