CHILDREN in Hartlepool are taking part in a project which promotes healthy lifestyles for young people.

About 25 youngsters aged eight to 14 attend Owton Manor Primary School every Monday night to take part in a range of activities including football, cricket and basketball - while children are also being encouraged to swap fizzy drinks for water and sweets for fruit.

The Community Organised Outdoor Leisure (Cool) project has linked up with Hartlepool Primary Care Trust for the initiative.

The area is ranked among the 25 most socially deprived in the country and has some of the greatest health needs in Hartlepool.

The Cool project has grown from the Hartlepool Community Safety Partnership in response to the demands of youngsters who want something worthwhile to do after school.

The scheme now operates at five schools and aims to expand to work with children across the town.

Cool co-ordinator John Reid said: "We are trying to get the kids off the streets and prevent anti-social behaviour by providing something more worthwhile on which they can expend their energies.

"We organised a survey of young people which showed they had little to do.

"We secured some funding and this scheme is proving very popular. We are hoping to expand it soon by splitting the age groups and running sessions two nights a week."

The primary care trust is providing water and fruit for the children, along with T-shirts and tracksuits.

Health development worker Steven Carter said: "It provides the ideal opportunity to get the children off the crisps and pop and onto apples, oranges, bananas and water.

"If we can get them into the habit of exercising and eating healthy food at this young age, they will grow up to be much fitter adults and have fewer health problems in later life."