A sports coaching company’s successful funding bid will enable it to offer a programme of sessions for young girls in Keighley.

JB Sports Coaching, run by Oxenhope resident Joshua Beattie, applied for funding from the national Sportivate initiative late last year. And it has just secured £1,450.

“We’d applied for the funding twice before but been unsuccessful, so this is fantastic news,” Mr Beattie said.

JB Sports Coaching already works in seven Keighley primary schools, and will be using these links to attract able-bodied and disabled girls to take part in evening classes.

These will enable girls to sample a range of different sports, including basketball, hockey, football and volleyball.

“I don’t think there are enough sports opportunities for girls,” Mr Beattie added. “There is still this idea sport is more of a boys’ thing.”