Ilkley property firm Dacre, Son & Hartley and subsidiary Dacres Commercial are supporting Ilkley Rugby Club’s ambitious expansion programme.

The club plans to create a new rehabilitation and fitness centre as well as extending the existing balcony area at its clubhouse, at Stacks Field, Denton Road.

It is hoped work will start later this year.

Both the estate agency firm and its commercial property division are supporting The Club’s ‘Buy a Brick Campaign’ which will see the names of local businesses and individuals printed onto 248 bricks that will prominently feature in the clubhouse.

The Club has already sold 223 bricks for £100 each and expects the initiative to raise almost £25,000, as well as a further £6,000 through Gift Aid, towards the build costs.

Head of Residential at Dacre, Son & Hartley, Patrick McCutcheon, said: “As a successful local business that has operated in the area for almost 200 years, Dacres is ingrained in the town’s property market. As a reflection of this we feel it is only right to support local amenities and especially a club that is as popular as Ilkley RUFC which offers first class facilities to all age groups.”

Richard Scargill of Ilkley Rugby Club says the extension will create a bigger spectator area and mean players will have access to new facilities.

He said: “These new facilities and the growth of Ilkley Rugby Club is also good news for the town as a whole because we now have more than 400 local junior members playing rugby and this number is continuing to grow. We are extremely grateful to Dacres and all the other local firms and individuals who are supporting us.”