AN organisation that provides sport and leisure activities for disabled County Durham youngsters has received £21,200 from Children in Need.

Durham Area Disability Leisure Group, based at the Riverside Park in Chester-le-Street, has been awarded the money to ensure it can continue to provide sporting activities for young people.

The group, whose patron is Paralympian Tanni Grey-Thompson, from Redcar, offers a whole range of activities from horse riding to fencing and go-karting for youngsters and their families.

Last Wednesday, the disability group staged a day of activities at the Riverside Sports Pavilion to celebrate the grant from the Children in Need charity.

Participants scaled the heights of a mobile climbing wall, played football and raced remote control cars.

Former Chester-le-Street District Council chairman Bill Laverick, who adopted the organisation as one of his chosen charities during his term as chairman last year, said the group really deserved the money. He said: "It is an excellent group, a really wonderful crowd and they do a lot for the young people. They have to try and find funding from all over the place, but that's one of those things these days."

Throughout the year, the group runs residential visits, outings, family fun days and courses in topics such as first aid, deaf awareness and sign language.

The Children in Need grant will go towards the salary of the group's co-ordinator, Lynne Watson, whose role is vital in running and developing the organisation.

Ms Watson said: "We are very family orientated - siblings can get involved with the activities too. So any families out there who would like to do something for and with their disabled children should get in touch with us."

For more details about the group, call (0191) 389 1666.