FIVE primary schools are celebrating sporting success after winning an award.

St Helen Auckland, near Bishop Auckland; St Joseph's RC, Coundon; Crook Primary, Escomb Primary; and St Wilfrid's RCVA in Bishop Auckland have been awarded Activemark Gold by Sport England.

The awards have been given for their outstanding commitment to promoting the benefits of physical activities both within the school curriculum and after hours. A further three schools have been presented with an Activemark. They are Copeland Road Primary School, West Auckland, St Andrew's Primary School, Henknowle and Cockton Hill Infants, which is the only infants school to gain the award.

Trevor Brooking, chairman of Sport England, said: "These schools are to be applauded for their consistent efforts in making sure our youngsters are keeping fit and healthy.

"They are under tremendous pressure within the National Curriculum from other subjects and often physical education and sport time are the first to suffer.''