The researcher will be based at the ICVS offices in Riddings Hall, Riddings Road, to co-ordinate efforts to find the most effective way to spend a lump sum of money left over from charity donations.

The Ilkley Old People's Welfare Committee fund was taken over by Age Concern, Bradford, in 1999, on the recommendation of the Charity Commission. The fund, which had reached a total of £41,350, had specifically been intended for use for old people in Ilkley.

But last month a row broke out when parish councillors in Ilkley were told that interest from the money had been paid into Age Concern Bradford's general account.

The charity defended itself saying that it had spent its own resources, including time and cash, in Ilkley before the cash was handed over to its care.

To discover the best way of using the money, a special advisory group has been set up containing people from the Ilkley, Addingham, Menston and Burley-in-Wharfedale area with the experience and expertise to use the funds effectively.

Parish councillor Pat Stevenson is a member of the advisory group. She said: "The group does not have any power, it is just to discuss ideas of how to spend the money.

"Members want to find out the best way of creating a sustainable project. They don't want anything that is just spent and finished with.

"It is a good idea to find a sustainable project for this area and from which people in this area will benefit."

She said that Ilkley had the highest percentage of older people living in the Bradford district and added that the lack of services added to isolation.

"We are perceived as being a wealthy area because there are a lot of expensive houses. But because we are rural we do not have as good access to services as people in the city," said Coun Stevenson.

The chief officer of Age Concern Bradford, Carol Wooller, said that the advisory group in charge of the survey contained many experienced charity workers from the Ilkley area as well as a lawyer and an accountant.