ILKLEY Wharfedale Rotary Club’s annual Recycling Day took place o n Saturday in the town’s central car park.

It was another bumper event with residents flooding the club with donations of bicycles, sewing machines, tools and mobility aids, spectacles and backpacks.

In total the club collected 113 bikes, 26 sewing machines, four van-loads of assorted workshop equipment (hand tools and power tools), 53 pairs of spectacles, eight wheelchairs, five rollators and an assortment of other mobility aids.

For the first time the club also collected unwanted school backpacks, and 22 were handed in – this is in addition to the backpacks already collected in various Ilkley schools.

It was the club’s fifth Annual Recycling Event, which started with Recycle that Bicycle but has grown over the years to support several other charities who refurbish and turn into good use many other practical items no longer used by their original owners.

“We were delighted to have so much equipment donated once again,” said organiser and Ilkley Wharfedale Rotary Club President John Brash.

“People who donated these unwanted items can be assured that they will be used to change people’s lives in the third world – giving people sight, mobility or employment, or helping in their education.

“Since we started collecting unwanted bicycles five years ago we have now collected well over 650 bikes in total – and we have gradually extended the range of items we collect. Our partner charities are very grateful.”

The equipment will be refurbished either by the Margaret Carey Foundation, SpecSort, Physionet, Marys Meals or Ilkley Tools for Africa and then donated as appropriate to people who need them but can’t afford them and given a new life in the third world.

More information is available on the Ilkley Wharfedale Rotary Club website.