A FUNDING page for a vegan café on the brink of extinction has smashed its original target.

Alternatively Vegan, in Pudsey, had a GoFundMe Page set up on its behalf by a member of the community who wanted to help save the small business, run by Angi Haist, from its unfortunate plight.

The goal was to raise £6,800 - money owed to South Street Asset Management Limited, relating to Miss Haist's son's brief in university accommodation, as a result of a County Court judgement in June 2019.

In just under four days - on December 21 - that had been surpassed, reaching £7,200.

The independent café is now looking forward to 2020, where "big things" are coming.

Miss Haist, 43, of Farsley, said: "We've got some events planned in - there's a comedy night booked in, a Valentine's Night meal, a few private events in.

"It's been really good to show how the community got behind us - it's fantastic really."

"It's been lovely, we've had so many lovely well-wishers.

"We've got new things coming up on the menu, from new suppliers - new sandwiches, new fillings.

"We're going to be having games, a pizza night."

This is a venture that has community and others at heart, after being set-up in January 2019.

On Christmas Day, Miss Haist hosted a special event where those who had nowhere to go were treated to a three-course meal.

She said: "People came in to see us about our Christmas meal - that was a real success.

"It's been wonderful, people came in and donated Christmas presents."

The single mother originally opened Alternatively Vegan to provide for her two children.

This was after she'd had to quit her job at Leeds City Council in order to support her eldest son, Jack Winstanley, who tried to commit suicide in March 2017.

His mental struggles traced back to when he started at University of Huddersfield in 2015, when Miss Haist had to pull him out after just two weeks.

It is here were the debt stems from.

The money to pay this off is still being held in the GoFundMe Page currently, but Miss Haist says they are trying to get that sorted.

She said: "What will happen is, we'll apply to the courts to set aside the judgement.

"We can pay the debt off, but the judgement still stands for five years.

"So we'll have to go to court because obviously it affects the running of our business."

The future is now looking much more positive though and the whole campaign has seen more visitors come to the café, as well as heightened awareness for mental health.

Miss Haist said: "It's all really exciting. We've got our first birthday next Sunday, on January 12.

"It's been a massive struggle for us, but seeing how, not just vegans, not just Pudsey, just people in general have been touched by our story and have come forward and spoken to us about their struggles and their things, it's what this is about.

"They like the place, it's a safe space, and it's the whole ethos behind it.

"It's wonderful we've got something to look forward to now.

"People were asking me for gift vouchers before Christmas and I couldn't give them, because I didn't know if they would be able to use them.

"Now we can plan ahead."