A run-down community centre is to be given £500,000 of European cash to build new premises.

Windhill Community Centre in Church Street, Shipley, has been housed in a second-hand temporary building - originally from Heathrow Airport - for the past 20 years.

Now workers at the centre want to replace it with a brand new facility, with room for a garden, a children's outdoor play space and a car park.

Community development worker Kath Quinn said Shipley East PACT - which administers European funding for the area - had set aside £500,000 for the project, which has already attracted £70,000 from the Government initiative Shipley Surestart.

And she added that the centre was also submitting a Lottery bid for £200,000 to complete the project. The PACT funding depends on a full business plan being drawn up and submitted, which Miss Quinn said should be completed within the next six weeks.

If all the bids are successful, it is hoped building work will start next summer.

Now members of the community are being asked for their ideas on what they would like to see in the new facility.

Miss Quinn said: "The plan is to replace this building on the site just below so that we can continue to provide services for the area.

"We went through this process 10 years ago but we didn't have the funding then so we couldn't do it.

"We have been asking people what they would like to see in the new facility. They said they would like to see what we have got now continuing, but also more sports and youth activities, and a floor which is suitable for dancing and exercise."

It is likely that the building will be L-shaped and will be slightly larger than the current premises, but there will be room for expansion.

The plans are not yet drawn up, but residents prefer a traditional style building, with glass front to fit in with the local area.

Miss Quinn said that it would have been "disastrous" for the community if the centre had had to close.

"We have some very active elderly groups here and a very important advice service to help people in some very challenging circumstances, such as debt or domestic violence," she said.

The centre also hosts computer training sessions which Miss Quinn said were vital to give local people the skills to enter employment.

The money is likely to be confirmed in November, and it is hoped the Lottery will respond to the bid within the next eight weeks.