THE Durham Dales have been chosen as a test area for a scheme to encourage children to take up sport.

The Active Choice Local Exercise Action Pilot (Leap) project for the Durham Dales Primary Care Trust area is one of ten projects nationwide.

It aims to increase physical activity in sedentary young people in Teesdale and Weardale.

The first phase of the project begins on Sunday with an event at Teesdale Sports Centre, Barnard Castle, featuring various types of sports.

The co-ordinator for the project David Allen said: "We're trying to reach the kids who for whatever reasons are the last to get picked at sports.

"This could be through their rural location, economic factors, lack of interest or just generally not very good at it."

Sports on offer will include American Football and new age curling, described as a cross between ice curling and carpet bowls.

A mobile climbing wall will also be visiting the centre, and a team of professional climbers.

Mr Allen said: "What I'll be doing is looking at which activities are successful and taking them into schools, not so much as curriculum activities but more for after-school sports clubs. We also want to take them into the village halls and rural communities."

The event, which is for children aged five to 15, will run from 10am to 4pm.

The Leap project will run for three years and Mr Allen will work with local schools to monitor any shift in activity levels of children.