A fear of flying inspired Eileen Walker to teach herself Welsh in 1984 - and now she is flying the flag for Wales by passing on her language skills to others.

Mrs Walker had already learned German, French, Danish and Spanish, but always dreaded jetting overseas to use the languages.

But, still desperate to expand her linguistic knowledge, she decided to choose a tongue she could use closer to home, and picked Welsh.

Two years ago she began running a course at Keighley College to educate others in the Celtic tongue, attracting 30 learners in the first year.

This year, however, the course was axed from the college prospectus because of funding cuts.

Undaunted, the 59-year-old from Laycock, Keighley, decided to set up her own course at home, and has been encouraged by the response from candidates.

Mrs Walker, of Briggs House Farm, said after her college course was scrapped: ""I was disappointed at first and then I wasn't. Running the classes with no connection whatsoever to the college means I'm not constricted to what I have to teach and it doesn't have to end with exams.

"Now we can sing, look at poetry, literature, have conversations, do grammar - all sorts.

"If people want to do exams they still can, but they'll have to go to Wales to take them to a certified exam centre instead of the college,"

Mrs Walker started up her own classes at Easter to fill the gap before the new September course began.

"The intention was to stop them once the new term began but of course now we're just carrying on."

A Keighley College spokesman said: "FE colleges have had their funding reduced, however, we support the principal of education for education's sake and congratulate Eileen on being able to run the course and make it viable."

To find out more about learning Welsh in Keighley, call Mrs Walker on (01535) 665829 or e-mail her at eileen@sgwarnog.com.

email: kathie.griffiths@bradford.newsquest.co.uk