This week the six trustees for the Help Find Shannon Fund and local community support group Pathfinder, which managed the collection of the money, met to decide what to do with the remaining cash.

Roger O'Doherty, of Pathfinder, said the decision was made to send a letter to everyone on the Moorside estate giving them three choices.

"The three options that were agreed upon were to either give a donation to a charity, give a donation to the local schools, which would be Knowles Hill and Westmoor, or for the money to be used for computer facilities at Moorside Community House.

"We're hoping to get the letters sent out by the end of the week and have asked for all responses to be sent back in the pre-paid envelope by May 30."

Family, friends, neighbours, local businesses and community groups donated money into the Help Find Shannon Fund – much like the one for missing youngster Madeleine McCann – during the 24 days the nine-year-old was missing.

Since shy schoolgirl Shannon was found on March 14, many residents raised concerns about what had happened to the official donations. There is currently more than £1,000 in the VAK (Voluntary Action Kirklees) account that was set up to receive donations.

Roger added: "The problem with deciding what to do with the fund has been that much of it had come from non-traceable donations. A lot of it came in tins and can't be traced back to the people who gave it.

"Those who made a traceable donation will be given the choice of getting it back or leaving it in the pool which will be spent on the residents of the estate."

Julie Busby, 38, chairwoman of the Moorside community centre, downplayed the worries voiced by residents who demanded to know where the money had gone.

She said: "A few people were angry when more of the details about the case came out.

"I'm all for this money going back to the people who raised it. We've had to return some of it to people who paid by cheque and that is fine because some people felt let down, but what is left should go to the community."