YOUNGSTERS were given a guided tour of a football stadium after hitting the back of the net in numeracy and literacy lessons.

A total of 24 pupils from St John the Baptist and Whitehouse schools, in Stockton, were shown round Middlesbrough Football Club's Riverside Stadium yesterday after being presented with prizes and certificates by Boro's 19-year-old defender Andrew Davies.

The ten and 11-year-olds had used football to improve their literacy, numeracy and IT skills in a scheme which had been jointly organised by the Middlesbrough Football Community Project and North Stockton Community Education Action Zone.

Fathers and their sons from Stockton's Tilery School were also presented with certificates after taking part in a football coaching and IT introduction course.

The community centre manager, Rob Lake, said: "The children have done really well, showing great enthusiasm to turn up after school every week to improve their maths and English.

"Even more impressive are the parents, who are getting involved with their children through the 'dads and lads' course. It is brilliant to see them working together and learning from each other.

"They all thoroughly deserve the trip to the stadium to meet Andrew Davies and enjoy a tour."