A Cross Hills church aims to raise up to £40,000 for desperately-needed refurbishment work.

And worshipper Gabrielle Ramsden hopes her fundraising venture will fit the bill – a jumper sale!

A wide range of hand-knitted sweaters will be on offer at Central Hall, Alice Street, Keighley, on Saturday between 9am and 2pm.

All proceeds will go towards the appeal for repairs and improvements at St Joseph’s Catholic Church, in Aire Street, Cross Hills.

Extensive work, from rewiring and heating installation to plastering, is needed to bring the building up to standard.

Mrs Ramsden, 55, from Kildwick, who has been a member of the church for 14 years, said: “It’s only a small building but it’s full every Sunday. There is a lot of work needs doing and hopefully this sweater sale will help raise a good amount towards it.”

The sweaters are being donated by Guiseley firm TB Ramsden Ltd, where Mrs Ramsden is design director.

“We produce the wool which then goes out to a team of knitters who make the garments,” she said. “We’ll have hundreds of sweaters on sale.”

Fr Michael McLaughlin, priest at St Joseph’s, said the congregation was working “enormously hard” to raise the funds needed.

“People are very fond of the church and they have been wonderful,” he said.“Since February, just under £10,000 has been raised.

“It was thought the property would be sold so not much was spent on it, but that has changed and we need to refurbish the building to make it fit for purpose.

“It’s very rundown and a lot needs doing, including new guttering and downpipes, new windows, plastering, rewiring, central heating installing – we currently use electric fan heaters – new lighting, toilets and eventually redecorating. There’s also a small community room which requires work.”

Fr McLaughlin said there had been an increase in families moving into the area, which meant around 70-plus people were now packing into the 84-year-old building for Sunday services.

A coffee morning is also being held on Saturday at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Wesley Place, Silsden, to boost the fund.