SCHOOLCHILDREN in South Ribble are to be given the chance to get to grips with sport as part of a new scheme adopted by the local council.

Primary school pupils at 12 local schools are to join the Top Programmes scheme this month on top of nine which piloted the project last year. The programme is designed to get youngsters involved in sport by providing schools with suitable equipment.

Two Top sport schemes will be operated in the borough's selected schools. Top Play will teach core skills and fun sport to children aged between four-nine, while BT Top Sport will introduce sport and games to seven-11-year-olds. Teachers at the schools participating have been sent on training courses, with schools receiving starter packs worth £360, containing child friendly, multi-coloured equipment such as mini rackets, bats, balls and markers to help promote sport.

One of the schools which has joined up is St Annes RC Primary School, Slater Lane, Leyland.

Headteacher Michael Barrett said the new initiative was very welcome. He said: "The whole scheme centres on the promotion of sport which is needed. We hope it will increase the children's interest in a wide range of sports on top of the normal ones we already offer."

South Ribble Borough Council plans to expand the scheme again in April in a bid to make it easier for children to get involved in sports outside of school. 10 sites in the borough have been selected to receive funding if a bid made to the Youth Sport Tryst is successful.

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