Despite being turned down for initial funding by Sport England, the Olympikdream Karate Centre in Cross Hills has finally opened.

The brainchild of world karate champion Paul Newby has been two years in development and has had to rely on sponsorship from local companies to help it reach fruition.

Very much a community project, rather than a for-profit facility, the Olympikdream Centre can now start to develop and nurture the sporting talent of the Keighley area.

Although the main focus of the centre will be combat sports such as karate, boxing and kickboxing, it also aims to cater for a wider sporting community by providing a range of conditioning and fitness facilities.

Olympikdream will also have gym and fitness classes for all ages and abilities in what is a friendly, safe and fun environment.

Nine-times world karate champion Wayne Otto, who is also England head coach, helped to officially open the centre by running a master class for 50 local fighters.

Olympikdream has also asked to be the England Karate Federation Kumite Performance Centre for the North of England.

Other coaches at the centre include British heavyweight K1 champion Craig Burke, world and European cycling champion Anthony Gill, British weightlifting coach Melvyn Barton and two-times world freestyle wrestling champion and British MMA heavyweight champion Tengiz Tedoradze.

Newby said: “It should now be easier for locals to get the specialist coaching and training they deserve.

"For the vast majority of my sporting career I have had to travel a long way out of the area to access such coaching and facilities.

"Now it is on everyone in Keighley’s doorstep. Although we will specialise is various performance sports, we will also cater for people who are just starting out in sport and want to get involved in a fun, enjoyable activity with like-minded people.”

Paul Evans, Keighley's sports development officer, said: “The Olympikdream Centre has worked closely with the Sport Keighley and b active partnership to develop and grow, and although they have received no public funding, they have done a fantastic job of attracting local private sponsorship to which massive credit should be given to these companies.

"The facility will be a great asset to the town and will certainly help to develop local sportspeople of all ages and abilities.

"The coaching staff is of world-class ability and I’m sure will be there to inspire and motivate anyone who walks through the doors.”

If you would like more information and details of class times, directions, costs etc, please contact Paul on paul.newby99@googlemail.com or go onto the Olympikdream.co.uk website.