A SPORTS festival for youngsters is to become an annual event following the success of the first event.

The Multi-Sports Festival, in Stokesley, attracted more than 300 children, from the age of four upwards, to take part in a wide range of events - football, hockey, rugby union, tennis, bowls, archery, cricket, dance, golf, trampolining and swimming.

The day-long event on, August 10, brought together Stokesley Leisure Centre, Stokesley Sports Club, the North Riding Football Association (FA) headquarters and Stokesley Golf Centre.

The sports festival was organised and funded by the local branch of Active Hambleton, an organisation made up of the district council, the Extended Schools Initiative, Stokesley School, local sports clubs and the North Riding FA.

"The underlying aim of the day was to encourage and promote physical activity participation," said David Earl, secretary of Active Hambleton.

"But we also hoped that everyone would come along and enjoy themselves - and they did just that. Many of the children who took part have already signed up for further sporting activities with the clubs."