schoolchildren are to benefit from a cash boost from the Sport Lottery Fund.

Derek Casey, chief executive of Sport England, will hand over a £114,000 cheque to Tyne and Wear Sport at the Tyne and Wear Youth Games, in Gateshead, on Saturday.

The cheque, which comes on top of £20,000 given by Sport England to stage the games, marks the start of a seven-year programme, during which more than £1.7m will flow into the region.

Mr Casey said: "This £114,000 of Active Sports Lottery Funding will go straight into providing better opportunities for young people. In the past, we have tended to fund facilities, and although this will continue, this new money is going directly to ensure more coaching and training opportunities."