BRITISH 400m runner Jared Deacon delighted primary school youngsters as he helped them celebrate winning Sport England Activemarks.

The athlete spent the morning at Bishop Auckland College taking part in sporting activities with pupils and teachers from the 15 winning North-East schools.

Jared, who is from South Shields and is a PE teacher, said he had enjoyed spending time with the youngsters.

He said: "They are all very enthusiastic and the schools have obviously put a lot of effort in to win these awards.

"More and more time is being devoted to other subjects and I think it is very important to keep PE as part of the curriculum.''

The five schools to be presented with Activemark Gold, were Crook Primary, Escomb Primary, St Helen Auckland Primary, St Joseph's RC, Coundon, and St Wilfrid's RC VA Primary, Bishop Auckland.

Ten schools awarded Activemarks were St Andrew's Primary, Henknowle; Cockton Hill Infants, Bishop Auckland; Copeland Road Primary, West Auckland; Annfield Plain Junior, Carr Hill Community Primary, Gateshead; Newport Primary, Middlesbrough; Westerhope First, Newcastle; St Bernadette's Primary, North Tyneside; John F Kennedy Primary, Sunderland; Wenesleydale Middle, Northumberland.