A DARLINGTON school has been chosen as the launch venue of a new scheme to help children keep fit.

Corporation Road Primary School hosted the town’s first meeting of Energy Club, a new national initiative for children aged four to 11.

The club provides free physical activity sessions, including healthy eating information and nutritional facts, with the first session was attended by 21 pupils from the school.

Head teacher Peter King said: “Today has been wonderful – it’s been great for the pupils to get involved with Energy Club which we have just started offering outside of lesson times at our school.

“It allows for our pupils to have more exercise while not taking away from their lessons.”

The scheme was set up by Sports Leaders UK and hopes to provide a lasting legacy from the Olympic and Paralympics Games by engaging children in sport and focusing on healthy eating and lifestyles.

Linda Plowright, CEO of Sports Leaders UK said: “Energy Club is about mobilising a new group of volunteers to get our kids having fun, and getting active. “It is different because it takes the people who care most about kids, gives them training and support, so they can make a difference in their local community.”