Keighley Community Transport could be shut down after the latest arson attack on one of its minibuses.

Chairman Brian Hudson says the destruction of the £27,000 vehicle is the last straw after three years of repeated vandalism.

The temporary closure would affect dozens of community organisations who serve the elderly, children and disabled people.

Mr Hudson said: "I'm seriously going to put it to committee members that we shut down. We can't sustain this kind of damage."

Mr Hudson is urging Community Transport's 200-plus user groups to write letters of complaint to Keighley police.

He claims the latest attack could have been prevented if police had given more support following previous incidents.

Mr Hudson claims the police have failed to contact him following incidents and promises of CCTV cameras came to nothing.

He said: "We're getting no protection from the police. They're a waste of space, they do nothing."

Keighley police chief Graham Sunderland yesterday hit back at Mr Hudson's allegations of inaction.

He pointed out that last weekend's incident was the first for eight months at the Community Transport base next to Holycroft Primary School.

The police used its own mobile CCTV unit in the weeks following the last incident, then worked successfully with other agencies in the area to nip trouble in the bud.

Chief Supt Sunderland said: "Because of the systems we put in place, nothing happened for eight months. With our partners, we've had major results."

He says the views of people like Mr Hudson are unfair to his hard-working officers, as well as being selfish. "We can't continue with preventative measures indefinitely without the people themselves doing something," added Mr Sunderland.

"We can't put police officers at the end of their street, we can't tie up technology indefinitely when other people need it."

Chief Supt Sunderland said that in the long-term, organisations such as Community Transport should come up with their own security measures.

He said Mr Hudson had in the past been given crime prevention advice during talks with senior police officers.

The police last year suggested Community Transport move to an area that was not so prone to vandalism and break-ins.

Keighley Community Transport moved to the Holycroft school site six years ago and parks its ten vehicles in the yard outside.

Over the past three years there have been numerous incidents, including car break-ins, broken windows, racial abuse, volunteers being stoned and fireworks thrown at staff.

Mr Hudson says his organisation cannot afford to replace the vehicle damaged in last week's fire. "The insurance won't buy us a new one," he said.