A SCHOOL is making all the right moves thanks to the presentation of chess sets.

St Peter's Roman Catholic College, Normanby, has been given ten sets.

The donation is one of the first in a national scheme coordinated by the English Chess Federation (ECF) and backed by the Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Normanby resident Gerry Walsh, who is president of the ECF, joined Redcar MP Vera Baird for the presentation at the school, yesterday.

Ms Baird said: "Although I did play chess with my father as a little girl, I won't pretend I'm now a chess player myself, but I know many children love it.

"It's proven to improve concentration and mental ability, and it's so impressive that the ECF has shown such dedication in organising this scheme. Every child should have the opportunity to play chess."

Last December, the MP got top young chess players from across the UK to take on MPs at chess in the Houses of Parliament.

Mr Walsh said: "This national programme is picking up pace, and I'm proud that one of the first schools to have taken advantage of it is in Teesside.''