A PARTNERSHIP aimed at improving physical education and sport in a north Durham community has been given a welcome boost from a fund for school sports equipment.

Paralympic athlete Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson was guest of honour at Roseberry Sports and Community College, Newfield, Chester-le-Street, to see the unveiling of a £200,000 package raised by Co-op customers for the Youth Sport Trust.

The Chester-le-Street School Sports Co-ordination Partnership, based at the college, was one of 93 school partnerships to benefit.

Partnership development manager Andrew Scothern said the cash would be used to benefit 22 primary schools and four comprehensive schools in the Chester-le-Street District.

He said: "It will be used to improve the quality of athletics and the delivery of athletics by teachers, who will be given four-hour training courses.

"There will also be a host of equipment, which will be made available to schools for indoor athletics."

The money was raised through a charity link-up with Procter & Gamble with a 5p donation going to the Youth Sport Trust every time Co-op customers nationwide purchased selected P&G products.

Youth Sport Trust chief executive Steve Grainger said: "We're delighted to be receiving such a generous donation and thank everybody who supported the initiative, which will benefit young people throughout the UK."

The Co-op's David Messom said: "As the health and fitness of the nation continues to come under scrutiny, this joint initiative was all about promoting active lifestyles amongst young people."

Dame Tanni said: "The Youth Sport Trust's TOP programmes give children a positive introduction to PE and sport, ensuring that they are more likely to continue taking part as they get older.

"Thanks to this fantastic fundraising achievement, schools in Chester-le-Street and across the country can now play their part in getting children active and raise funds for much-needed school sports equipment."