AN activity day for disabled children and young people is being held near Durham this weekend.

The Children's Network event, organised by Durham County Council social services department, takes place at the Deerness Valley Sports Centre at Ushaw Moor on Saturday.

And officials hope that the event, backed by the SRB5 Children's Services Partnership, will encourage more families with disabled youngsters to seek help from the network.

Activities for all the family have been organised, including shadow puppets, percussion music, face painting, soft play and using computers to communicate for fun.

The council is keen for more families with disabled children to register with the Children's Network to receive the support and advice the service offers.

Children's Network project worker Rob Watson said: "We recently made a public appeal for parents and carers to register disabled children of any age from birth to 18 with the County Durham Children's Network.

"Saturday's event is a chance for families to come and have fun together and at the same time find out more about the Children's Network.''

Families who register with the network receive a copy of its free newsletter, which contains details of leisure opportunities for disabled youngsters.

They can also suggest information they would like to be included in the resource directory for Children's Network members that will be published early next year.

Mr Watson said: "We hope that on Saturday many more children and young people will join the 300 across County Durham who are already registered.''

For more information call Mr Watson on 0191-383 4095 or Minicom 0191-383 3980.

Doors open on Saturday at 10am, followed by a welcome from Debbie Jones, the council's head of children's services, at 10.30am.

Activities run from 11am to 4pm. Everyone is welcome.