A COLLEGE is offering its students a wider choice of sporting activities next term - including golf, horse riding and self-defence.

The programme will be available during the compulsory PE classes for 14 to 16-year-olds at Northallerton College from September - expanding the range of sports they can participate in.

The college's joint heads of PE, Ruth Curtis and Alistair Macrae, yesterday announced the new activities, which also include martial arts, trampolining, aerobics and indoor climbing.

Mr Macrae said that some of the sports would take the pupils outside the college. Golf at will take place in Romanby, horse riding in Brompton and weight training at Eddie's Gym, in Northallerton.

Mrs Curtis, a black belt in karate, will teach self defence and martial arts to youngsters at the college.

She said news of the classes sparked particular interest among the girls.