Shropshire soldiers serving in Afghanistan have established a boxing club in a bid to end Taliban hopes of recruiting children to their cause.

Troops from 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment, who are working alongside the Afghan National Army to provide security in the area, have opened the club in the village of Noorzo Kalay.

Ever since, children in Helmand’s Nad-e Ali district have been flocking to take up what, to them, is a very unusual pastime.

The initiative, which has proved hugely popular, was the brainchild of Ranger Billy Ball, a 32-year-old Territorial Army soldier from Newtown Abbey, Belfast.

An experienced boxer and qualified boxing coach in Northern Ireland, he has led the coaching and organised games between the children.

Military officials said scenes like this are a sure sign that insurgent influence in the area has been crushed, and that local people are happy to associate with Afghan forces and their ISAF partners without fear of intimidation from the enemy.

At the first class 16 boys turned up and quickly picked up the sparring techniques that they were shown. By the second session word had spread and 40 youngsters arrived

Captain Jeffrey Herbert, regiment spokesman, said: “The security situation has greatly improved in Noorzo since the arrival of our soldiers, and it is a very visible change in the perceptions of the locals towards us which has led to this opportunity. Some of the children are real naturals and we all hope that the Billy Ball Boxing Club will continue in Noorzo long after the Royal Irish return home.”

Ranger Ball said: “The boxing training has already broken down barriers between ourselves and local Afghans.”