HUNDREDS of schoolchildren discovered the fun of running today (Tuesday, April 1) as part of a national health and fitness campaign.

About 360 children from across the region took part in the Ineos Go Run For Fun event at the Oak Leaf Sports Complex in Newton Aycliffe.

Cheered on by Olympic long jumper Chris Tomlinson, the children enjoyed a lively warm up before setting off on a one-mile run around the sports field.

Alison Gargan, headteacher of Byerley Park Primary School in Newton Aycliffe, said: “Our children love being active and taking part in competitions and festivals. It was a fantastic event and everyone had a great time.”

Ineos, one of the UK’s largest manufacturing companies, will invest £1.5m over the next three years to establish a new charitable foundation to encourage children to run for fun.

It is hoped 30,000 youngsters will take part in a Go Run For Fun event in the first year.

According to Public Health England, more than 50 per cent of primary school children do not get enough exercise and 30 per cent of two to 15-year-olds are overweight or obese.

Great Aycliffe Town Council, which owns the complex, allowed the organisers to use the site for free.

Councillor Barbara Clare, the Mayor of Great Aycliffe, said: “It is great to have local athletics clubs and national campaigners working together to encourage our younger generations to start running and keep running.”