CHILD obesity levels in Darlington have dropped for the first time since a project was launched to improve the health of the town.

Schoolchildren in reception classes and year six have been measured for the past three years to record the number who are overweight or obese.

Data for the 2007-8 school year which has just been released showed that the number of obese children at both levels had dropped since last year.

At reception level, where children are four to five years old, 10.0 per cent of children were obese. Last year the figure was 10.7 per cent and in the first year it was 10.1 per cent.

More than double the number at year six, ages 10 and 11, are obese. The current figures show that 20.4 per cent were obese, lower than the 21.0 per cent figure in 2006-7 but higher than the 20.1 per cent level of the previous year.

The percentage of children who are overweight was 13.5 per cent in reception classes and 13.9 per cent in year six. Both figures have continued to drop during the three years for which records exist.

Across the town less than one in every 100 children at both age ranges is underweight.

Approximately three in four children in reception classes are normal weight but the figure drops to two in three in year six.

The figures have been assessed as part of a Government drive to tackle obesity although Darlington has recorded data for longer than the equivalent national averages.

A strategy has also been drafted for Darlington to prevent obesity and promote physical activity.

A report which will be discussed by councillors on the children and young people scrutiny committee on Monday said: "The draft strategy highlights the problem of obesity in children and what needs to be done in Darlington to prevent obesity and to develop services to treat obesity.

"It is anticipated that the local action plan will provide the opportunity to deliver and monitor services to address childhood obesity in Darlington."

The plan will also work to reduce the numbers of women who smoke during pregnancy, promote breastfeeding, provide support for schools and increase activities in schools.