ALMOST 1,000 primary school pupils took part in a Christmas fun run yesterday.

The event, at Dalton Park, Murton, County Durham, was organised to help raise the fitness levels of youngsters from the area.

Supervised by a team of young sports leaders from Seaham School of Technology, it involved six separate runs for primary school pupils, aged between six and 11, and took place on the parkland surrounding the Dalton Park retail centre.

The event was organised by the School Sports Co-ordinator Partnership and Easington District Council, and supported by Pantheon Retail Ltd, the manager of Dalton Park.

Reebok, which retails at Dalton Park, provided medals for individual team winners and all those who took part received a certificate.

Geoff Sheldon, Easington District School Partnership co-ordinator, said: "The run not only provided a fun social occasion for all the runners but was another important event within an intensive programme designed to encourage fitness activity in young people.''

Heather Scott, Dalton Park marketing manager, said: "Dalton Park is very community-based and we want to be actively involved in as many local initiatives as possible. The School Sport Partnership has given us the opportunity to encourage healthier lifestyles in young people and what better way to use our parkland.''

Dalton Park is on the site of the former Murton Colliery spoil heap.