EXTREME sports are coming to Otley - and they'll be free to all the area's young people.

The town's Space to Grow project has just taken on a new project manager, following the departure a few months ago of Dominic McDermott- who left to go travelling.

And to make sure the project continues long after grant aid runs out, the scheme is expanding into the commercial market.

Lee Burnside, 31, from Skipton, started work this week from the project's new permanent headquarters, the White House caf on Otley Chevin.

Mr Burnside, an outdoor pursuits instructor for more than eight years both at home and abroad, said he was looking forward to the challenge.

Experienced in rock climbing, caving, ice climbing kayaking and sailing, as well as other outdoor pursuits, he said he would be connecting up with other agencies, such as the police and councils, to organise their outdoor activities.

Much of the activities will be based around Otley, on Otley Chevin and on Danefield Estate and will involve young people from Otley and the surrounding villages.

Through its commercial side, the project will also get involved with young people who have got into trouble with the police as well as workers on team building exercises.

Mr Burnside said: "The police is involved in fighting crime by getting kids off the streets and I'll be running the programmes for them, the councils also have links with youth services who also run programmes for kids.

"I have done work before with dysfunctional youth and trying to give them chances," he said.

The work with outside organisations will mean Space to Grow will be able to fund itself and continue its work with the area's young people.

"The commercial side of the business will mean that Space to Grow can sustain itself for the future."

This week Space to Grow has been running a team building exercise for people at Leeds Metropolitan Univ-ersity.

The amount of outside work carried out by Space to Grow will govern how much free activities is carried out for Otley's young people.

It is also hoped that more instructors will be brought in to carry out various activities.

"We've already got a data base of local kids built up over the last seven years from all sorts of backgrounds and it'll be those we'll be going to."

The activities, which will take place all year round will include caving, orienteering and camping - and for the first time, sailing and kayaking using Otley Sailing Club's facilities.

"We shall be running all our water sports activities from there," he said.