A YOUTH cafe which successfully helps hundreds of youngsters with drink, sex and drug issues faces closure after failing to win repeat funding.

Bingley Youth Cafe was set up with a £500,000 Lottery grant in 2010, which transformed a store room below Bingley Swimming Pool into a social haven and learning centre and also paid for five years of professional staffing.

But a bid for fresh cash from the same source has been turned down due to demands from other areas deemed to be more deprived.

And the cafe, which has 800 youngsters on its books, could now close in March next year unless alternative support can be found, said Paul Stephens, chief executive officer of Shipley and Bingley Voluntary Services, which runs the five-day a week centre.

"We are very grateful to the Lottery for the past five years - but seeing that all come to nothing is gutting," Mr Stephens said.

"It's not just about the money, but all the emotional investment by everyone concerned, the young people and the staff themselves.

"The feedback we got from the Lottery this time was that while they saw it was a good, successful project, there are so many other projects applying with greater need from inner city areas of high deprivation."

Mr Stephens said his organisation was urgently contacting potential funders.

"We have told youngsters that the cafe's future is under threat and losing it would be a terrible wrench for them.

"But until the doors close, there's hope."

Full-time development worker Paula Stone said it was not only a safe meeting place, but also tackled youth drink, drugs and social problems in Bingley and beyond.

"One of the reasons it was first funded is Bingley had a very high level of chlamydia. Also there would sometimes be a hundred young people meeting to drink and do drugs in Myrtle Park," said Miss Stone.

"Since we've been running, anti-social behaviour in the town has dropped dramatically and it's not just about local young people. One of our most regular visitors comes from Bradford Moor - Bingley's always been as gathering place for young people because it's viewed as relatively safe.

"And the cafe is a place where they chose to come, it's all voluntary and so when they take up cookery sessions or have drink and drugs counselling, it's because they really want to - which is why it works so well."

Councillor David Heseltine, (Con, Bingley) is a staunch supporter and said: "It's very disappointing that after all the investment and despite the exceptional work they do, it seems Bingley is not considered deprived enough."

Shipley MP Philip Davies added: "They do fantastic work and if there's anything I can do to help, I will."

A Bradford Council spokesman said: "Bingley Youth Cafe has been a great success with lots of young people benefitting from the services it offers.

"We’re in discussions with partners about future arrangements for the cafe."