FORMER Olympic champion Steve Cram will launch a sporting challenge for schools in east Cleveland on Monday.

Along with top Teesside athlete Alison Curbishley and Yorkshire wicket-keeper Simon Guy, Cram will be a guest at Laurence Jackson School, Guisborough, for the start of the east Cleveland Active Schools Development Partnership.

In traditional Olympic style, there will be a march past of youngsters, before the sports hall becomes an indoor arena for primary school taster sessions in hockey, cricket, tennis and basketball.

Sport England has awarded the partnership more than £340,000, which over three years will pay for primary and secondary teachers' time in a School Sport co-ordinator programme.

Partnership development manager Chris Booth said: "We want to increase opportunities for all young people to participate and achieve in PE, school sport and out-of-school hours activities that link with community and club development programmes."

Already the partnership, which began its work in September, has linked up with New Marske Harriers to hold training sessions for primary schoolchildren.

The partnership has been formed from the Education Action Zone, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, Health Primary Care, all the area's primary and secondary schools and Prior Pursglove College.