A WOMEN'S group has just been set up in Huddersfield.

Sahaylees was launched at the Muslim Community Centre in Clare Hill.

Visitors were given demonstrations of sewing traditional Asian garments and were asked for suggestions about what activities they would like the group to run.

Thirty-three women joined the group at its first meeting.

Sahaylees has been formed primarily as a sewing club.

But activities such as cookery and exercise classes are planned.

It has been set up by women from the Asian community who wanted to learn how to make traditional garments.

But secretary Shazia Naveed said the group was open to women from all cultural backgrounds.

She added: "We have been brought up in England and have not learned the skill of sewing traditional Asian clothes from our parents and we wanted to learn that.

"There used to be a sewing class we attended last year, but the money ran out. So we set up this group.

"Now we want to keep learning new skills. The club is open to all women. The idea is to get them together and provide different workshops, so they can learn new skills and share them."

The Voluntary Action Kirklees group has given Sahaylees money to pay for tutors and running costs.

The group will meet twice a week from 4.30pm to 6.30pm on Mondays and Wednesdays at the Muslim Community Centre. There will be a creche on Wednesdays.