MOVES to revive Haworth fire station and bring it into community use have been given a boost.

A senior fire officer says the service would prefer to see the closed station being used by the community - even though selling the property would raise much-needed capital.

And he added that the service would welcome talks with those concerned to discuss ideas in more detail.

The assurance comes as the chairman of a group formed to fight for the former station is urging people to back its efforts.

Steve Thorpe called for action after a meeting of the Friends of Haworth and Worth Valley Fire Station.

He said he and colleagues were applying for an £8,000 grant from Awards for All and reckon it would cost about £14,000 to keep the building open for a year.

The group is looking into setting up a system which would mean people could donate to the cause online.

"We had about 30 people at the meeting, but the people of the Worth Valley are going to have to decide if they really want these services," said Mr Thorpe.

"Now is the time to get behind it, because once these services are gone they are gone forever.

"If every household gave just £1 it would be enough for us to get the station open again."

He said if the building is not converted to a community centre, it would most likely be sold and turned into a cafe and car park.

"We don't just want things for tourists in Haworth, we need proper services for the community," he said.

Mr Thorpe said £14,000 to run the building for a year was an 'achievable sum'.

The building is still owned by West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and Mr Thorpe warned quick action was necessary before the property was sold and converted for some other use.

The building ceased to be a fire station on December 31, 2014 after being earmarked for closure as part of a major cost-cutting programme.

Deputy Chief Fire Officer Steve Beckley said: "We have been working with representatives of parish councils, Bradford Council and other partners for more than two years in a bid to develop proposals for the community to take control of the building and use it as a centre from which to co-ordinate and deliver a range of services.

"We welcome the latest developments in which the Friends of Haworth and Worth Valley Fire Station group has been formed and have offered to meet them, along with representatives of the local parish council, to discuss their ideas in detail.

"While we wish to sell the former fire station to raise much-needed capital, we would prefer for the local community to be given every opportunity to make full use of the building and we will continue to work hard to try to make this happen."