A project which has taught 6,000 Bradford children how to prevent back pain is on hold because of a lack of funding.

The Airedale Backcare for Children - or ABC - programme was started four years ago by three Keighley physiotherapists.

David Cook, Jayne Duffy and Joanne Campion wanted to teach young people about good posture and how to carry their school bags. Mr Cook said the project was important as research had shown that half of all children aged between 11 and 14 will have experienced some lower back pain.

The project has run successfully in a total of 28 schools, with funding in the past coming from Bradford's Health Action Zone and, last year, from the Government's Children's Fund. Mr Cook and his colleagues have also run conferences on the project all over the country to teach fellow physiotherapists.

"This year we have not been able to get funding to run the project in Bradford, though we are still looking for funds," said Mr Cook.

The trio are planning to apply for charitable status, which would give them access to funding from different sources, but they are also looking for any help available. "The scheme is unique to Bradford," said Mr Cook.

The three physiotherapists, who work at the Airedale Sports Injury and Physiotherapy Clinic, teach 11 and 12-year-old youngsters about anatomy, how the spine works and how they should carry things.

Anyone interested in helping to fund the scheme should call Mr Cook on (01535) 611743.