A growing amateur rugby league club which caters for about 150 children is campaigning for new facilities in the Aire Valley.

Keighley Albion is seeking to build its own changing rooms at the site it shares with Crossflatts cricket and football clubs.

But a bid to Sport England for £38,000 to fund the scheme was rejected.

Now the club is appealing for help from the community and has won the backing of Shipley MP Philip Davies.

“At the moment we have eight teams – from U8s to U16s – but there are just two changing rooms for use by ourselves and the cricketers and footballers,” said club chairman Dean Brookes, who lives in Oakworth.

“We all get on but the cricket club has several sides and we play in the summer, so there is just no space.

“Our club is growing, but we may have to hold back numbers if we can’t find a solution.”

Mr Brookes, 43, said the plan is to install new changing facilities – with showers and toilets – at the site, on a plot which once housed a youth club building.

“Because there were premises there before, things like drains and electrics are already in place,” he said.

“The sort of building we’re looking at is a container-type, vandal-proof cabin.

“We were disappointed that the funding application to Sport England was unsuccessful, but we haven’t given up hope.

“Mr Davies visited us and was very supportive and said he would try to help.

“We’d also love to hear from anyone who could assist with a suitable cabin.”

Mr Davies said Keighley Albion, and Crossflatts Cricket Club, played a crucial role in the community and did a “brilliant” job providing sporting opportunities for young people.

He added: “I was extremely impressed when I visited them, but it was clear they needed investment in their facilities, for the people they currently have there let alone the additional numbers they would like to cater for.

“I will do everything I can to support them in securing funding. They are exactly the type of grassroots sporting club Sport England should be funding.”

Anyone able to help can contact Mr Brookes on 07775 468700.