A RECORD number of County Durham schools have picked up a national sports award.

Ten schools in east Durham - all partners in the Easington District School Sport Co-ordinator programme - have been awarded Sport England's Activemark or Activemark Gold.

The award, open to all primary schools, recognises commitment to promoting the benefits of physical activity.

Children from the ten local award-winning schools attended a presentation at last night's Premiership match between Sunderland AFC and Manchester City at the Stadium of Light.

The winners and key teachers were: Easington Church of England Primary, John Robertson; Cotsford Junior, Steve Lamb; Deneside Junior, Lyndsey Marshall; Parkside Infant, Elizabeth Harwood; Shotton Hall Junior, Therese Carr; St Godric's RC Primary, Thornley, Julie Hill; Thornley Primary, Debbie Turnbull; Haswell Primary, Dawn Whittaker; Wingate Infant, Marie-Louise Binks; Yohden Primary, Catherine Elliott.