KEIGHLEY’S Mayor this week met Special Olympic athletes he is helping through his charity appeal.

Councillor Shabir Ahmed went along to the first day of a week-long summer sports scheme at University Academy Keighley for young people with learning disabilities.

Bradford Disability Sport and Leisure (BDSL) has organised five days of activities, including cycling, cricket, football, sailing, athletics and wheelchair sports.

Some of the participants are also training to compete in the Special Olympics National Games in Sheffield in summer next year.

Bradford’s 55-strong team, which include 20 athletes in the Keighley area, must between them raise the £19,000 for essentials, such as transport, accommodation and kit.

Cllr Ahmed chose BDSL to benefit from his year’s fundraising because two of its athletes went to Keighley Town Council in 2013 to show medals they won in that year’s National Games.

During his visit, Cllr Ahmed also met Special Olympian Stephen Thorne, who showed him a silver medal he won in last weekend’s regional cycling competition.