Keighley and Ilkley MP Kris Hopkins has hailed confirmation that Bradford Council now intends to release a £20,000 grant to support the Keighley Cougars for the forthcoming season as "excellent news for the club and the wider community."

Mr Hopkins was recently approached by Cougars' chairman Gary Fawcett after fears were raised that the annual grant would not be made available for the 2012-13 financial year because of Council cutbacks.

The Keighley and Ilkley MP wrote to Bradford Council Leader Ian Greenwood to highlight the potentially "catastrophic" consequences for the Cougars if this money was not made available.

However, in a response received this morning, Cllr Greenwood told Mr Hopkins: "Subject to the Cougars demonstrating that they have delivered the programme and required outcomes for 2011-12, the Council will be making a payment in March 2012 for the Cougars to deliver the programme again in 2012-13."

The Conservative MP said he was "thrilled" at this news.

He commented: "It has been a very difficult and worrying few weeks for the Cougars and their fans, and I am thrilled at the outcome.

"I have said many times before that the Cougars are not just about what happens on the pitch, but about the first-class work they do in encouraging young people to get active and in bringing different communities together across Keighley and the surrounding area.

"These activities are of tremendous value to everyone involved.

"I am delighted that, as a result of this new funding, they can now continue."