Prince Charles today pledged his ongoing support to a Bradford village by offering a personal donation to help fund ambitious plans for regeneration.

The undisclosed sum has been made by the Prince of Wales to the Cottingley Cornerstone Centre project.

The project, expected to cost £3 million, aims to breathe new life into the village and includes plans for a new church and 48 houses.

The Prince has been following the project's progress since he visited the village to re-dedicate a war memorial in 2002.

He was sickened when, just months later, vandals desecrated the memorial, built at St Michael and All Angels Church to commemorate villagers who fought in the First World War.

St Michael's, at Littlelands, was demolished last year after being condemned as a dangerous building.

The Telegraph & Argus reported exclusively in October how Prince Charles had written a heartfelt letter to the village stating the project was a "shining example of what can be achieved when the community comes together".

Today the church's vicar, the Rev Canon Sue Pinnington, said the Prince's donation was "kind and generous".

Mrs Pinnington said the pledge was a great boost for the future of the project and hoped it would encourage people to help the fundraising effort.

She also revealed that an outline planning application for the centre, which will provide a large multi-use hall, meeting rooms, a computer suite, an advice centre, a doctor's surgery and facilities and day care for residents, had been submitted to Bradford Council.

She said: "The Prince of Wales has sent a personal donation. I cannot state how much but he has made a donation towards the project and is giving us massive support.

"He has given us a personal commitment which we are all excited about and this is a great early Christmas present."

Mrs Pinnington said any amounts of cash would be welcomed. People in Cottingley had arranged fundraising ventures for the ambitious project.

"I want to thank people for their ongoing support," she said.

"It's really exciting because we're getting local backing from people in Cottingley and Bradford but we are also getting support at a national level and from the Prince of Wales.

"The plans have gone in which we are really pleased about. And we obviously hope that they will be passed."

In his letter to the village, the Prince said the scheme would help people feel they belonged to Cottingley and compared the plan to the Poundbury development in Dorchester, where he built a development of houses and shops so people could live and work close together.

It is understood that Prince Charles has been consulted about the project's design and has given feedback to the architects.

A spokesman for Prince Charles confirmed that a cash pledge had been made: "The Prince is delighted to support the Cottingley Cornerstone Centre project which he sees as a very important community project. He's very happy to pledge his support and demonstrate his commitment to the ongoing project.

"A donation has been made and the Prince is delighted to help the future progress of the scheme."

It is hoped that £1 million will be raised by the public and a further £2 million will be raised by selling the houses that would be built on the site, and through grants.

Work is expected to start next year.