BLACKBURN with Darwen pupils have been branded good sports by double Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes.

69 of the borough's high school children took on the role of leaders and organised a host of activities for primary school children, under the Blackburn with Darwen School Sport Partnership initiative which links literacy and numeracy with physical education.

And it saw the partnership highly commended in the Youth Sport Trust's Development Awards which recognise achievement in school sport.

They were handed out by Dame Kelly who said: "Blackburn with Darwen School Sport Partnership is leading the way in helping us create healthy, active and happy youngsters."