MORE than 2,000 primary schoolchildren from across Derwentside took part in a fun run yesterday.

The event, launched by Olympic silver medallist and winner of the first two Great North Runs, Mike McLeod, is designed to encourage youngsters to lead a healthier lifestyle.

The cross-country event is the first of several co-ordinated programmes of school and community initiatives to promote healthy eating and physical exercise.

Mr McLeod said: "We are trying to encourage people to eat more fruit and vegetables, to look for more nourishment in their diets and to do more exercise to stop becoming obese.

"The amount of people who are becoming overweight is frightening.

"The kids have all seemed to enjoy it. It is a bit chilly but when you are healthy and able to run around, what is a bit of cold?"

The event was held at the former steelworks site at Berry Edge, near Consett.

It heralded the start of a project called A Healthy Future, organised by Derwentside Leisure Services, which aims to improve the health of youngsters living in the district's most deprived wards.

The run was jointly financed through the Children's Fund and the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund.