The congregation at St Margaret’s Church, Ilkley, is celebrating after starting the new year debt-free.

The church has finally paid off a loan for its parish hall, thanks to more than five years of fundraising.

The building was completed in 2005 with the help of money from the Diocese of Bradford. The parish was asked to pay around £112,000.

Father Philip Grey said the money had been collected through fundraising and donations.

“One year, we asked people to give us a Christmas gift to help us pay it off and we raised about £5,000-£6,000 through people’s generosity,” he said.