A NEW North Yorkshire youth club has been taken by surprise with a rush of members only three weeks after opening.

The Monk Fryston Junior Youth Club was launched in December and more than 25 young people have already enrolled for a range of activities.

The club is the first of several youth projects backed by Selby District Council’s western community engagement forum.

The village’s community centre has been extended to create extra space and additional childcare capacity and facilities for a before and after-school clubs.

John Leslie, club chairman, said: “We felt if it opened in December, we would have a quiet start to the club and find our feet before really getting going in January – how wrong we were.”

The Monk Fryston and Hillam Community Association, which helped launch the club and recruit, train and coach youth leaders together with North Yorkshire Youth, and the western CEF are now raising funds to redevelop the community centre and launch new Scout and Guide groups.

For more information or to get involved, phone Ray Newton on 01977 682084 or Mr Leslie on 01977 682334 or visit www.mfhcc.com