SPORTS stars have come on board to try and get people in County Durham more fit and active.

County Durham Sport is moving to new premises as part of a relaunch as an independent not-for-profit company.

The organisation, which was previously part of Durham County Council, is becoming independent from May 1 and will be based at Finchale College, Durham.

As part of the move, a board of trustees including Olympic swimmer Chris Cook, former international athlete Meryl Levington and cricket writer Stephen Brenkley has been appointed.

It is hoped the change to independent company will allow it to access alternative funding and attract more investment.

Executive manager Ian Gardiner said: “County Durham Sport has achieved great things over the last 10 but as a new, independent not for profit company, we also want to secure more funding so we can offer fantastic sports and activity programmes for people of all ages and abilities in County Durham.

“We’d like our population to consider fitness and being active as a normal part of everyday life – not an add-on. And if that creates a few Olympic Champions along the way, then we will obviously be delighted with that too.”

County Durham Sport, which has been running for 10 years, promotes activities to get more people doing physical activity and has worked with more than 20,000 people at risk of developing type two diabetes and heart disease.

Its initiatives include the School Games and Sportivate programme, which encourages 11 to 25 year olds to take part in sport.