Two English legends honoured by the Queen are inspiring youngsters to take part in sporting pursuits.

Former England cricket captain Michael Vaughan OBE, who led the country to victory in the Ashes in 2005, gave children a crash course in cricket at The Girls’ Grammar School, Bradford, yesterday.

He signed autographs, took part in a question-and-answer session and passed on tips to children during a taster session for his coaching camp, Michael Vaughan Cricket, which is supported by King’s Camps.

Mr Vaughan, whose cricket camps take place at more than 20 venues throughout the UK during the summer, said there was still a great passion for cricket in Bradford.

He said: “We want the children to go away enjoying the game of cricket – that’s what the camps are all about.

“I look back to when I was five. I didn’t have any camps, my mum and dad used to play in the garden with me and I guess that’s how a lot of children start.

“But if you can provide camps for them just to go and learn all the different elements of the game and the skills. It’s going to help.”

Meanwhile, Sally Gunnell OBE, the former Olympic hurdling gold medalist, will be in Centenary Square on Saturday offering advice to visitors to a free athletics event.

Young people are invited to the McCain Foods Track & Field Roadshow to try tests of endurance and strength in running, jumping and throwing.

Sally is best remembered for sprinting her way to glory for Great Britain in the 400m hurdles at the Olympic Games in Barcelona in 1992.

“You have to put the work in and believe in yourself, that comes over a few years, through setbacks and disappointments,” she said. She urged all young people, regardless of their abilities, to visit the roadshow. Top performers could win funding to their local athletics club for a year, athletics kit and events tickets.

Participants will also be given details of their local athletics club.