A football academy set up by a group of young people is a big hit with children living on an Oxford estate.

The academy in Wood Farm was created to give children and teenagers the opportunity to play football in an organised environment.

It was established last November and about a dozen children are attending the sessions already.

They are held on an all-weather pitch at Wood Farm Primary School and local professional coaches also provide tuition from time to time.

Organiser and coach Ben Green, 18, of Girdlestone Road, said: "Wood Farm used to be a good area. I think its reputation has gone down a bit in recent years and if we can get people off the streets and down here playing football hopefully it will get better again.

"The aim is to catch youngsters early and give them something to do before they go off the rails." At the moment the academy only runs on a Thursday night, but the coaches are hoping to add a second session each week.

Sessions run from 7.30-8.30pm, and aim to teach youngsters not only football skills, but also discipline, sportsmanship and fitness.

Fellow organiser Darren Gardiner, 21, of Masons Road, said: "We didn't have this when we were kids, so we're trying to put something back.

"We have grown up with children hanging around the shops and we don't want a bad reputation for the estate."

Alex Williams, 16, of Nuffield Road, said: "It's about getting the young ones off the street and we would like to see as many kids down here as possible."

Youth worker Susann Haehnel said she hoped more young people living on the estate would get involved in the academy. She said: "The lads who have set it up have done really well. Lots of youngsters have come down and I think it's really positive.

"The coaching is not just pointless stuff, like running laps, but has a lot of useful, interesting elements to it and the children seem to really enjoy it."

For more information about the academy, call David Bartrip on 01865 768288, or turn up to one of the sessions.