CAMPAIGNERS face a race against time to secure £100,000 to provide a community base for a range of voluntary organisations.

Unless the money is raised before contractors finish work on the £1.4m project at Ripon, fundraisers will face an increased bill to recall workers to finish the job.

Ripon Council for Voluntary Service (RCVS) is spearheading completion of the project at Sharow View, Allhallowgate, as part of a scheme backed by Ripon City Partnership Single Regeneration Budget - known as the Ripon Moving Forward Campaign.

RCVS executive officer Lynette Barnes said: "We have already raised £110,000 from two grants to enable work to start on phase two.

"Obviously, we would like to achieve the whole of this phase as we are so nearly there.

"We need to raise £100,000 and, with the help of everyone, we feel it is possible.

"But time is short if we are to keep the construction company on site."

Completing now would mean Community House would be finished and fully operational by early next year.

The RCVS is appealing for individual donations - large or small - and is seeking organisations prepared to raise money on their behalf.

Work on the first phase is nearing completion amid mounting excitement from all the voluntary organisations who will be moving into their premises.

RCVS has worked closely with North Yorkshire County Council which sold it the building, bringing back into use part of the Sharow View site near the heart of the city centre.

Phase one is costing £900,000, with the second phase priced at £500,000.

Yorkshire Forward, the region development agency, has made a grant of £364,000 and the project has also received support from a number of trusts and was adopted as a major development by the Tudor Trust.

Any offers of help to complete the fundraising target can be made on (01765) 603631.