World Champion to open boxing club

A world champion woman boxer will officially open a new boxing club in a Staffordshire village tomorrow.

Wolverhampton-based super featherweight champion Lyndsey Scragg will be at Littleton Youth Centre, Stafford Road, Huntington, (7pm). The Right Stuff Community Amateur Boxing Club is aimed at 10-20-year-olds.

It follows similar successful projects set up with the help of Staffordshire police in Stone and Stafford.

The project targets young people who may be at risk of involvement in anti-social behaviour or minor criminality and focuses on self-respect and self-esteem.

As well as boxing coaching members help in community projects such as litter picks.

Pc Andy Whitehall, involved in launching the club, said officers and youth workers listened to young people and residents and worked together to bring the project to Huntington.

Pc Whitehall got the British Boxing Board of Control's award for services to boxing and the community for encouraging youngsters into the sport. He said: "The youngsters will have to do three community projects to earn a club tracksuit."

Lyndsey, aged 31, of Wednesbury, who won the world title at Wolverhampton Civic Hall in June, will bring her belt and model the new club's tracksuit.

Six volunteers have joined. Anyone interested in the clube should call Pc Tim Rees or PCSO Louise Jones on 0300 123 4455.

It is backed by Staffordshire Youth Services, South Staffordshire Council, Community and Learning Partnerships, South Staffordshire Housing, and Huntington and Cannock Chase High Schools.