The total cost of rebuilding Burley-in-Wharfedale's fire ravaged Roundhouse has been revealed - as money to pay for the damage has begun flooding in.

Burley Community Council committee member Tom Sumner told the village's annual general meeting last week that an insurance quote of £28,000 had been agreed.

But he added that sum would only cover the expense of restoring the badly damaged listed building to its former glory. Another £4,000 or £5,000 would have to be found to replace all of the Roundhouse's rotten window frames, a project BCC had planned to carry out in stages before the blaze in April.

Turning to the circumstances of the fire, which the police are treating as suspicious, Mr Sumner said: "A lot of people have been asking me what actually happened and if it was an electrical fault. Well I can tell you it wasn't an electrical fault, it was definitely arson.

"At around 2am on Monday, April 14, the Roundhouse was broken into and they actually lit a fire by the electrical sockets, so it could have looked like an electrical fault.

"Twenty-eight thousand pounds seems an awful lot of money just to get it back to the standard it was at before the fire but the roof needs taking off and refurbishing, all the lead from it has gone, and every pane of glass is cracked and broken and will need to be replaced.

"And it doesn't make sense while we're there not to do the window frames."

He added that BCC was also considering removing trees and shrubs which surrounded the Roundhouse, as they provided cover for anyone trying to illegally enter, or damage the building.

And all of its new panes of glass will be laminated, in a bid to make them harder to vandalise or break through.

Meanwhile, Mr Sumner said an appeal launched to pay for all the work had met with an immediate, and generous response.

"I'm being stopped daily in the village and people are offering me money, which is very nice, but it would be great if they could send cheques to our treasurer, Mike Harris.

"I think it's fantastic, what people are doing to help."

Earlier BCC chairman Bruce Speed, in his opening remarks, had mentioned the upset caused to many people in the village by the fire.

But he also praised the reaction of the local community, including the Reception Class at Burley Oaks School whose four and five-year-olds organised a fund-raising drinks party last week.

Burley Bridge Association, which is itself constantly seeking funds to pay for a bridge across the River Wharfe, has backed the appeal with a £100 donation. And some of the proceeds from this year's Duck Race, which has been moved from its usual June slot to Sunday, July 27, will also go to the cause.

Giving his BCC accounts summary for the year, treasurer Mike Harris told the meeting that he had applied to Ilkley Parish Council to see if they could get help from that source, too.

As for the running total for the campaign, he said: "I am very glad to tell you that we have had more than £1,200 already, so it's looking like a very successful appeal."

Restoration work at the Roundhouse, which is being carried out by Englefort Contractors, started last week and should take around eight weeks to complete.

l The women who usually sell coffees at the Roundhouse are organising several fund-raising coffee mornings at the Parish Rooms, in Station Road, on forthcoming Saturdays while the rebuilding work takes place.

All proceeds from these mornings will go to the appeal - more details will appear on notices around the village.