A GROWING number of women and girls are flocking to the city's boxing club and learning how to defend themselves.

Every Thursday night, volunteer Ed Morris trains women and girls at Worcester City Amateur Boxing Club, in Vincent Road.

Alison Sidebotham, aged 33, started boxing at the club last year and has already competed in two fights.

She said: "When I was little I wouldn't have dreamed of stepping into a boxing gym as I felt I'd be laughed out.

"I think attitudes have changed. Boxing is not seen as a man only thing now.

"Just because you're not as big and strong as the lads, you can still be taken seriously."

The University of Birmingham technician said she feels safer and more confident as a result of joining the club.

She added: "I know in a fight with a bigger bloke I'll never win, but I do feel a little bit more confident that I would be able to defend myself."

Ms Sidebotham initially joined the club to improve her fitness, however she was soon drawn towards competing.

She added: "Ed asked me if I was interested in fighting. I think I laughed.

"I'm very small and skinny and don't really look like a boxer. But it was always something I fancied doing.

"My first fight was in December. It was terrifying. I quickly realised she was better than me, it was a case of not getting absolutely battered.

"I lost but I don't think I lost horrifically. I wanted to do it again afterwards."

Issy Taylor, aged 18, who has been training since she was 15, has witnessed how the club's women's night has grown over the years.

She said: "When I first started there were like three of us, it's got a lot more popular."

Miss Taylor said boxing has made her feel less insecure and helped reduce stress during her exams.

The sixth form student added that knowing self-defence made her feel more confident when she started going out as an adult.

Like many other young boxers, Miss Taylor looks up to Nicola Adams, the British boxer who won gold in the 2012 and 2016 Olympics.

Her mum, Michelle Taylor, aged 56, trains alongside her daughter.

She praised Mr Morris for giving up his own time to run the sessions.

Mr Morris, aged 27, told the Worcester News that he started the women's class in 2015 as a way to give back to his trainer, Mike Underwood, who runs the club.

The self-employed carpenter, of Belmont Street, Worcester, who joined the club aged 10 because of bullying, said the club provided women with self-defence skills.

He added: "You see a lot of women on the streets get jumped, I know for a fact most of the women here could knock out a bloke."

On average, around 15 women and girls go to the club on Thursday nights, paying £3 each to train from 6pm to 8pm.