A GROUP of British Olympic greats yesterday helped launch a plan for the development of sport in the North-East.

Ex-hurdlers Colin Jackson, Sally Gunnell and Kriss Akabusi, former decathlete Daley Thompson, sprinter John Regis and ex-middle distance star Steve Cram were at Matfen Hall in Northumberland to endorse the Sport England plan aimed at tackling obesity and promoting healthy living.

The North East Regional Plan for Sport intends to make the region one of the most active and successful sporting regions of the country.

It hopes to encourage 70 per cent of the population to be reasonably active - participating in 30 minutes of moderate exercise five times a week - by 2020.

Sport England's North-East regional board chairman Tim Cantle-Jones said: "We want to work with local education authorities and schools to promote a four-hour weekly target for sport and physical activity for pupils.

"It will not only develop a new crop of sporting heroes, but also promote healthy living to our next generation and try to diffuse the escalating levels of obesity."

Mr Cantle-Jones said it was hoped more people would volunteer to help maintain and build clubs and activity groups and that more coaches would sign up to help develop sporting talent.

1984 Olympic 1500m silver medallist Steve Cram, now a television presenter, said: "It is important the region has very strong plan. This is a more co-ordinated approach.

"It is about putting activity in everyday lives, not necessarily through organised sport, but through walking or cycling and other exercise."

He and the other former stars also helped open the £4.5m spa and leisure development at Matfen Hall.

It incorporates leisure and spa facilities, conference rooms and 21 additional bedrooms.