Schools are being awarded £60m of National Lottery money to improve their sports facilities today amid growing fears over levels of childhood obesity.

More than 200 school and community projects around England, including 20 projects in the North-East, will receive the money from the Big Lottery Fund to help build pitches, changing rooms and gyms.

Ministers hope the money will encourage more youngsters to take part in sports and help make the nation fitter and more competitive in international competitions.

Rates of obesity among adults have almost quadrupled in the past 25 years in the UK, while the number of obese children has tripled in 20 years.

Recent research estimated that about one in ten six-year-olds are obese, rising to 17 per cent of 15-year-olds.

Among those to benefit is Whickham School, in Gateshead, which will receive more than £1.3m for a synthetic turf pitch.

Other projects include an outdoor adventure centre on the site of Walsall Airport, in the West Midlands.