A top local athletics coach has been thrown out of Bingley Harriers after being found guilty of gross misconduct by UK Athletics.

Dennis Quinlan, 59, was expelled from the club after admitting the non-sexual harassment of two female club members.

He was said to have become obsessed with one of the women and became abusive to her, and a friend, when the relationship ended.

The club committee met on Monday and withdrew Mr Quinlan's membership.

A statement said: "Dennis Quinlan has been found guilty of gross misconduct and his coaching pass and licence have been withdrawn. As a consequence, Mr Quinlan is no longer a member of Bingley Harriers' coaching team.

"The club has considered what further action may be necessary in the best interests of all its members and has decided to terminate Mr Quinlan's club membership forthwith. Bingley Harriers wish to stress that this difficult matter, which involved complaints from adult members of the club and not children, has been addressed as thoroughly and sensitively as possible.

"The club has a child protection policy in place and this will now be formally extended to cover adult members. The club now considers the matter closed." Club secretary Alan Oates said Mr Quinlan, of Westwood Crescent, Cottingley, near Bingley, joined the Harriers in 1974.

"He has been a member for a long time and has been involved in coaching athletics for a long time, which makes it even more sad that it has come to this," he said.