Keighley Ukrainian Association is stepping up its support for fellow countrymen as they battle for democracy.

The 42-member association is backing calls for the Ukrainian election to be rerun.

The Russian government was accused of fixing the recent poll to return its own choice of candidate, Victor Yanukovych.

On Saturday morning, Keighley association chairman Peter Szczur and colleague Nick Lajszczuk met MP Ann Cryer to express their concerns about the situation. She pledged to take up the matter with Foreign Secretary Jack Straw.

And that afternoon around 40 people gathered at the local Ukrainian Centre, in Henry Street, to show solidarity for campaigners in their homeland.

Guests included Keighley's deputy mayor Councillor Tony Wright, fellow town councillor Graham Mitchell and former deputy mayor Councillor Amjad Zaman.

Mr Lajszczuk, who was among the speakers at the event, said: "I have just recently returned from a trip to the Ukraine where I witnessed some of the violations of the democratic voting process.

"We are very concerned as a community and a nation that while for 13 years we have been free from the rule of Moscow, Putin is telling us now not to interfere with Ukrainian politics, yet he's sending across his thugs to interfere with the democratic process. The election was flawed and corrupt.

"We want the West to refuse to recognise the government as it is voted in now and we plead for support in maintaining our independence.

"There has to be a rerun of the election, under the supervision of European monitors. The will of the people must be seen to be done and we don't want Moscow's interference again into the Ukraine's affairs."

A collection was taken, which raised over £2,000 -- in addition to £1,000 donated by the association -- to support the protestors who have taken to the streets of Kiev and other cities.

Councillor Wright voiced his backing and said the issue would be discussed at a meeting -- taking place last night -- of the town council.

On Sunday, members of the Keighley community travelled by coach to London to join around 2,000 others at Holland Park Avenue -- within 100 yards of the Ukrainian embassy -- in a demonstration of solidarity. Over £4,500 was collected at the gathering.

Anyone wishing to support the Keighley fund can send a cheque -- payable to the Association of Ukrainians (Kiev) -- to the centre at 9 Henry Street.