Keighley Albion ARLFC have started up a junior rugby programme at the club.

A total of 18 children aged four to 12 have been training at the club's two Burgess Playing Fields grounds, and more recently indoors at Marley because of the weather conditions.

One of the coaches for the juniors, former Albion player Dean Brookes, said training began last summer initially through an advert in the Keighley News.

The programme has grown since then through word of mouth and includes Brookes, Craig Livock and John Normington as coaches.

Albion has not had a junior team for 20 years and it has been about ten years since one of the Pennine Amateur Rugby League teams has had a junior team.

Club representative Paul Moore said: "Our junior set up is the only alternative to Keighley Cougar Cubs."

Brookes said the club are planning to enter an U-8s team into West Riding Youth League in September.

Brookes said: "The younger you start the better you get. This is all about getting kids more involved in active sport."