A NORTH East council has received a share of £5.9m to invest in grassroots sport.

Sport England awarded £137,059 to Darlington Borough Council’s Sports Development Team to fund a project to get more residents involved in sport.

The initiative, called Active Darlington, is one of 36 across the country to receive a share of the fund and the money will be used to run entry level sessions across a range of sports and encourage people to get back into a sport they once played.

Councillor Nick Wallis, Darlington Council’s cabinet member for leisure and environment, said: “This is brilliant news and a welcome boost to increasing the level of involvement in local sports.

“Money is tight in all areas and any extra boost to funding is welcome and will be put to very good use in Darlington.”

Councillor Andy Scott, cabinet member of heath and partnerships, added: “This money will help local people to become more active and either take up a sport for the very first time or return to a sport or activity they enjoyed previously.

“Sport enriches life in so many ways through social interaction and through the undoubted health benefits.

“This is good news for the borough.”

Mike Diaper, Sport England director of community sport, added: "It’s great to be working with innovative projects, like Active Darlington to offer people the chance to get into sport in a way that best suits them.”