An Ilkley outdoor centre will receive a major cash boost this year after being picked as one of the new Lord Mayor of Bradford's charities.

Councillor Allan Hillary has chosen the Nell Bank Centre, in Middleton, and the Bradford branch of the Outward Bound Association as the two groups to benefit from his 2003 Appeal.

Coun Hillary announced his decision when he was installed as Lord Mayor, taking on the role from retiring Councillor Richard Wightman, , of Menston, at the annual meeting of Bradford Council on Tuesday.

He was joined in the Lord Mayor's Rooms at City Hall for the official launch of the appeal by Bruce Fowler, head of the Nell Bank Centre, and Mike Burtoft, from Bradford Outward Bound.

Mr Fowler said: "We are thrilled to receive support from the Lord Mayor's Appeal. It will help us expand our facilities so even more young people can benefit from them.

"We are planning to build more accommodation to cater for the massive demand for the centre and a new pond where we can teach youngsters about insects and the natural environment."

Set up as a charitable trust in 1977, the Nell Bank Centre provides outdoor adventure and educational activities, including orienteering, moorland studies and team building, for young people from across the district.

The centre is used regularly by local pupils, youth clubs and disabled groups and currently has a waiting list of more than 50 schools who want to use it this summer.

The Outward Bound Association, meanwhile, helps to raise money to give young people the chance to take part in outdoor adventure courses - and earlier this year even sent a team of teenagers to Kenya to climb Mount Kilimanjaro.

Explaining why he had picked the two groups to benefit from his year in office, Coun Hillary said: "The census figures show that the district has a growing younger population and I believe supporting the excellent work done by Nell Bank and Outward Bound is a sound investment in our young people.

"In my youth I was involved in various youth clubs and these two organisations reflect the same commitment and respect for young people that gave me a great start in life.

"I would like to invite everyone across the district to join me in supporting them through the Lord Mayor's Appeal this year."

The Nell Bank Centre could reap substantial financial rewards if the 2003 appeal matches the success of last year's, which raised thousands of pounds for the Candlelighters children's cancer charity.