The Royal British Legion could be forced to sell off its Keighley premises unless it can raise £20,000 for essential repairs, the group’s chairman has warned.

The branch stopped using its headquarters in Lord Street in November 2010 because of fears over the safety of the wiring.

Brian Hudson, chairman of the Keighley Royal British Legion, said the charity’s county officers had now warned the building would be put on the market if it was not brought back in to use in the near future.

He said the annual Poppy Appeal collection in Keighley, which raises thousands of pounds every year for servicemen and their families, would not take place if collectors didn’t have a base to work from.