Extra hands are needed to make light work of cleaning up a flood-ravaged Bingley sports club as it prepares for its grand reopening.

The Bradford & Bingley Rugby Club in Wagon Lane was wrecked by flooding five months ago and has undergone a revamp - but help is now needed to finish off odd jobs and tidy up the building.

Club members have been contacted to help in the mass clean-up but members of the board are appealing for groups who have used the facilities or kind-hearted residents to volunteer.

Peter Harrison, one of the board directors, said he hoped the community would help the club to prepare to welcome the public back on April 2.

"Housekeeping like cleaning light switches and lamp shades all needs doing. We also need people to wash glasses that were covered in dirt and dust while the building work was taking place and move the furniture. It's just like any jobs you would do if you were moving into a new home," he said.

"We have also got a lot of silt from the river around the outside of the club that has got to be powerwashed down and we need manpower to help with the job."

Mr Harrison said the club only had one paid employee and was struggling to get ready for the big day.

Work would have to continue around customers if necessary but he hoped organisations which have used the facilities for functions or even school pupils could help to bail them out.

The club was closed down after it was flooded on October 31 when the River Aire burst its banks.

Fixtures and fittings were submerged and water reached four feet in the bottom bar.

"It was awful, there was food everywhere," said Mr Harrison. "It took nine weeks to dry out before the contractors moved in and it was full of effluent so you can imagine how horrible it was. It broke everybody's hearts."

After a building project costing more than £125,000 the club will welcome visitors from Blaydon Rugby Club into the new surroundings after the first match on April 14.

Volunteers should contact the club on (01274) 775441.