A quarter-of-a-million pounds is burning a hole in the pockets of a Bradford charity.

Bradford Environmental Action Trust has £220,000 to distribute to deserving "green" projects, but has only been able to give out £1,000 so far.

And it is now appealing for applications for a slice of the huge cash pot which comes from landfill tax credits.

Under the landfill tax scheme introduced in October 1996, waste operators must pay £7 per tonne of rubbish dumped. The money is funnelled to environmental projects via groups like BEAT which assess applications.

BEAT is currently considering 48 bids but would like more so the money can be distributed as widely as possible across the Bradford district.

So far just one grant of £1,000 has been given out to Great Horton Methodist Church where churchgoers are cleaning up an overgrown graveyard and transforming the area by planting wildflowers and trees.

Kathleen Thornton, a member of Great Horton Methodist Church, said the money would allow their conservation project to go progress.

"We are only a small group of volunteers," she said. "This money means we can buy some proper tools.

Dave Varney, of BEAT, said: "We see this scheme as Bradford's tax refund, and we want to make sure the money is all spent in Bradford.

"It's the first time we have had this kind of money to play with. It's exciting for BEAT and it generates community enthusiasm because people know there are funds to access. We have had 48 applications for money, but we would like to see more."

For details write to BEAT at Pit Hill Community Environment Centre, Holme Lane, Bradford BD4 0QF.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.