RUGBY player Danny Brown tackled the issue of rugby coaching head-on when he gave some professional advice to young players in Wear Valley.

The sportsman, who plays for the Newcastle Falcons A-team and Darlington Mowden Park, arrived in Leeholme near Bishop Auckland to train youngsters on a summer scheme. He was the latest in a string of professional coaches that PC Calvin Skinner, from Bishop Auckland police, arranged to teach youngsters on the activity programme.

Four football coaches from Newcastle United's Football in the Community Scheme have been taking football sessions and next Thursday will take the young players on a tour of St James' Park.

On Sunday, September 2, the children who have taken part in the rugby training will get to see the Newcastle Falcons play their first game of the season against the Leicester Tigers free of charge.

PC Skinner, who raised £1,500 for the coaching, also worked with the County Durham summer activity scheme Splash 2001 to arrange professional tennis, cricket and basketball coaching.

The free sessions have run throughout the summer holidays and are designed to keep bored youngsters off the streets.