AN ILKLEY community centre has suffered a double blow.

Organisers were left saddened by the theft of a collection box for its automatic doors appeal and a break-in on the day of a fundraising event for the same cause.

The Clarke Foley Centre, in Cunliffe Road, is trying to raise £41,000 to replace the heavy doors at its main entrance with automatic doors, giving more people easier access to the building.

The centre for the over-50s attracts almost 1,700 people every week, including many elderly or disabled visitors who use a wheelchair, mobility scooter or other walking aid.

The appeal is drawing closer to its target and hopes to start work soon.

But it suffered a setback when a collection box in the cafe was stolen on June 16. The box, thought to contain about £25 in loose change donated by cafe customers, had been secured to the counter, but the thief had cut through the chain.

The centre says volunteers and staff were particularly distressed about the theft of the charity box because this is where people put small change and larger cash donations in good faith. They intend their donation to be used for the benefit of the centre.

Centre manager, Judith Ellis, said: "The heartlessness of this theft is heartbreaking.

"We’re all working really hard to make Clarke Foley a welcoming and happy environment. Acts like this undermine what we’re doing."

The theft is the second crime at the centre this month.

Staff were also dismayed on June 6 to find an upstairs office window had been broken. Although nothing was taken, the office was littered with glass, and a telephone handset was destroyed. The incident came on the same say as the highly successful We'll Meet Again 1940s theme tea dance, which raised £900 for the automatic doors appeal.

Several businesses in Ilkley have also reported thefts of charity collection boxes in recent months.

However, the centre is continuing with its appeal, and keeping a close eye on security.

A bun-o-meter on the wall on the Clarke Foley's cafe, marking the progress of the fundraising appeal, is close to being completed.

Donations can be made to the centre's appeal online. Visit clarkefoley.org.uk for more details.

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