CHILDREN will be meeting Sunderland Football Club player Liam Lawrence as part of a series of summer schools.

The meeting will be take place at Sunderland AFC's (SAFC) summer schools at the Stadium of Light today.

The schools are part of the SAFC Foundation's Step Up programme, aimed at helping young people successfully complete the sometimes difficult transition from primary school to senior school.

The children from schools across the Easington district will take part in interactive activities based around literacy and numeracy and also practical exercises, role play, Press reports writing and an exercise session.

Following the completion of the summer school the youngsters will attend voluntary sessions at their senior schools, participating in activities on issues such as drugs awareness, anti-bullying and peer pressure.

SAFC Foundation development manager Lesley Spuhler said: "Thanks to support from Caterpillar Peterlee, which has funded the summer schools and Go North East, which has provided free transport for nine Easington primary schools, this educationally valuable experience has been possible for almost 90 children."

Andy Burns, of Go North East, said: "I'm delighted that Go North East's Community Bus Miles scheme is adding to the very positive impact that SAFC Foundation's fantastic community programme is delivering. It's a very simple but effective way for us to play our part in community investment in the Sunderland and East Durham area."