Elderly residents living on a deprived Bradford estate say they face isolation and ill-health with the possible closure of a popular support service.

Organisers are mounting a last-ditch attempt to save Holme Wood's Daylight Centre after losing £25,000 of Council cash.

The service - based at the Holme Christian Care Centre - had received the community grant in previous years but lost out in the latest round in November. The group immediately appealed against the ruling to no avail.

The Reverend Alan Evans, who runs the Broadstone Way centre, said: "At the moment I refuse to consider closing as an option until I know there is nothing else I can possibly do."

But he conceded the future looks bleak with the existing grant drying up in March.

After an emergency meeting yesterday, Mr Evans appealed to Bradford businesses to come to the rescue. "The Council talks about tackling social exclusion but, judging by this, it appears that it doesn't care," he said.

The centre was launched eight years ago and currently caters for about 90 elderly residents. Its weekly events include keep fit classes, social events, bowls matches, lunches and arts and crafts sessions. Visitors are ferried to and from their homes as well as taken on shopping trips and other outings.

Daylight Centre manager Lillian Benson said the service had made a "huge impact" on the health and well-being the estate's elderly - a view echoed by social services bosses and 14 GPs in the area who supported its appeal.

Before coming to the centre, one woman had not been out of her home for seven years, said Mrs Benson.

"If the centre closed, there are a lot of elderly people who simply would not come out of their homes. By keeping them active we have a positive effect on their health and well-being," said Mr Evans.

He warned the closure would have a big impact on health and social service resources because of big increases in their workloads.

He said its failure to attract funding was partly because elderly issues "lacked kudos" and "were not vote-catching".

"Afterwards the Council decided the system wasn't working and decided to change it," he added. He said Daylight Centre needed about £30,000 a year to pay for its co-ordinator, running costs and minibus expenses.

Anyone who is able to help the centre should contact (01274) 689306.

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