AMIR Khan went back to basics when he took an amateur boxing class in his home town.

The Olympic silver-medalist was training for a boxing coaching qualification at Bolton Lads and Girls Club, where he took up the sport as a boy.

He was joined by around 20 volunteers, from as young as 16-years-old, who will help coach at Gloves - an amateur gym that Amir is to open in Prince Street, in Halliwell, Bolton.

He has ploughed £500,000 of his own money into the project, which will be run as a charity and is aimed at getting Bolton youngsters fit and out of trouble.

And despite his success in the ring, the 20-year-old lightweight prospect trained as hard as his colleagues on Saturday, as they took instructions in basic boxing moves from Amateur Boxing Association coach, Quentin Shillingford.

Amir said: "It's good to learn the basics again - we all need to be reminded of them. It's encouraging to have so many volunteers here who are interested in my project. The gym is important to me, I want it to be a community project and I want to get kids out of trouble and give them a new discipline. I want them to train at my gym instead of fighting in the streets."

Work is underway on the site of the gym, which is set to open in May. It will cost almost £950,000 to build and £350,000-a-year to run. The trainee boxing tutors - among them, Amir's dad, Shah - must complete two additional weekend courses before gaining their coaching certificates. They will then work to get kids into the gym as well as taking their facilities into schools.

Mr Shillingford said: "The ABA really appreciate Amir taking time out. It's encouraging for younger kids to see him giving up his Saturday to re-learn basic boxing. He is a wonderful ambassador for us and we really respect the fact that he is opening an amateur gym in Bolton."

Sharples High School pupil, 16-year-old Jack Booth, said it was inspiring to train with the role model.

He said: "Training against better opponents can only make you better. The gym is a great project to get more people involved in boxing and off the streets."