A NATIONAL table tennis champ went to bat for the launch of ping-pong sessions in Keighley's Airedale Shopping Centre.

Sally Shutt, a former England table tennis star, showed local people how to play the fast-moving game on a table set up near Burger King.

She took on players including Andy Bray of Haworth Hawks Table Tennis Club during last Saturday’s session.

The aim of the exhibition games was to give shoppers a chance to see table tennis played at its best.

For the next few weeks the Airedale Centre is hosting two table tennis tables, provided by Keighley Table Tennis Centre.

Shopping centre manager Steve Seymour was one of the people who took part in the games on Saturday.

He said: “We’re always on the lookout for fun and interesting activities for shoppers to enjoy, so when the opportunity to have two table tennis tables in the centre came up we jumped at the chance.”

The two table tennis tables are located on Cooke Lane and College Walk.