Young rugby league players will soon be kitted out in new strips thanks to business support in the town.

A deal has been penned between Keighley Cougar Cubs and several firms, as well as Keighley Town Council, for the junior rugby league club to get new kits.

Maintaining the club's traditional red, green and white colours but in the style of top Australian side Sydney Roosters, it is planned for all the teams to wear new strips.

Private businesses backing the re-launch are Hamilton Builders, Mmg International, Stuart Currie builders, Regal Interiors, Richard Ackroyd, Advanced Media Display, Paul Stott, BB Bibby Roofing, Metro Taxis, EGM, Ray Lomax Cars, John Laycock, Roger & Helen Mitchell, By Products and Workouts.

And Keighley Town Council last week agreed to spend £750 to help buy two new kits, which will be emblazoned with its logo.

The deal could also see the club being provided with one extra kit each season from next year as older kits are replaced.

Town council support was pledged after one of the parents spoke to Councillor Tony Wright in a bid to help with the plans.

The deputy mayor said: "It is an excellent start for us to give a commitment to support this local team.

"It would be great for the parents to see that it is an area in which we are concerned."

Sporting opportunities were seen as an area that the council should be supporting.

Cllr Graham Mitchell said: "We have too many obese kids around who need some sporting activity to do. And secondly there are too many teenagers sitting around on street corners with nothing to do, so I am very happy to support this."

Paul Kelly, from Keighley Cougar Cubs, was delighted the council had joined support from the business community to back the campaign to kit out the teams in the new-look strips.

He said: "We are obviously delighted to accept sponsorship large or small, but this has to be the biggest amount we have ever had pledged. Many thanks to the council from everyone involved with the cubs."

He said the club provided training and matches for more than 250 youngsters in the town. There were currently boys teams, playing from the ground at Utley, aged from eight to 18.

The club, one of five in the district affiliated to the British Amateur Rugby League Association, is also looking to establish a second girls' side.