The Headingley Primary School/Heart Initiative will this Saturday will be on hand to see the Headingley Development Trust open its new shop on Otley Road.

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It will launch a major campaign to raise the money to save the former school building on Bennett Road.

Lesley Jeffries, a trust director, said: "We need to raise £150,000 by June 30 to stop the council selling this much-loved building. We want it to be a thriving arts, enterprise and community centre, not more flats.

"To publicise our work in the area and this urgent campaign, we are pleased to be opening some shop premises in central Headingley.

"Local residents will be able to drop in and get campaign details, join the trust and get more involved.

"Our local MP, Greg Mulholland (Lib Dem, Leeds North West], will be cutting the ribbon at 9.30am on Saturday and we hope for a big crowd to help us officially open our premises."

She added: "This will see the launch of an energetic two-month campaign to sell shares in the project. For just £100 minimum donation, every Headingley resident can own a little part of its future."

The group is encouraging residents to meet at Headingley Primary School at 9.15am on Saturday to walk together to the shop opening at 9.30.

Full details of current projects can be found at: www.headingleydevelopmenttrust.org.uk

Headingley Development Trust celebrated last November when council chiefs agreed to hand over the school to them on a long-term lease at a peppercorn rent.

The local authority had considered selling it for development but months of campaigning prompted a change of heart.

The trust was established more than two years ago and now has more than 700 members. It has already set up a monthly deli market and supported the community buy-out of the local wholefood store.

It plans to turn the Bennett Road school into an exemplary "green" building.