A WORLD champion visited a North-East school to celebrate its achievements in encouraging girls to play sport.

Anna Hemmings, the women's kayaking champion, awarded an Innovation in the Curriculum award to Sedgefield Community College, in County Durham.

It was awarded on behalf of Girls in Sport, a scheme led by Nike and the Youth Sport Trust to encourage secondary school girls to take part in physical education.

The college is holding its girls in sports week, established last year following a visit to Australia by PE teacher Alison Bage, who saw how Australian schools involve girls in sport and brought some ideas home.

Headteacher Lynn Ackland said: "We had a girls in sport week last year and it was really successful, so we're doing it again.

"Girls are sometimes pushed into the background, especially during the European football championships, but this week we've got lots and lots of girls doing things they wouldn't normally."

Olympic athlete Allison Curbishley will also visit the college this week, part of a drive to provide role models for the girls.

The college is hoping to help other secondary schools in the area raise the profile of girls in sport.

Ms Hemmings said: "Girls in Sport isn't about being a world champion, it's about enjoying sport, getting involved and staying healthy.

"I would like girls to see sport as a fun, positive thing and this programme certainly helps that process."