A NEW football club has kicked off at a primary school thanks to a housing group's support.

After learning that Laurel Avenue Community Primary School in Sherburn Road, Durham, had been struggling to find volunteer coaches and money to buy equipment, the Three Rivers Housing Group decided to help.

Nigel Dowd and Gareth Heslington, community housing officers on the Sherburn Road Estate, offered to spend an hour every Wednesday coaching more than 20 boys and girls ranging from six to 11.

Three Rivers, a major housing provider at Sherburn Road, also donated football equipment worth £500.

Mr Heslington said: "We already knew quite a few of the children and their parents who live locally.

"Helping to put this club together fitted in very with other community development work that we do on the estate."

The club already boasts two football stars - Callum Dowd and Tom Cairns, who play for County Durham Boys' under eights and under nines teams, and with the extra practice, it is hoped they will improve further.

Gaynor Davison, acting head teacher at Laurel Avenue, said: "The children have been very keen to have a football club for a very long time. The response we have had from pupils and parents has been truly amazing."