A FORMER Olympic canoe coach’s initiative to raise awareness of climate change has been backed by the Prime Minister.

David Train, who was born in Stockton, is calling on world leaders to sign his Paddle for Life – a wooden canoe paddle which he is hoping to use a symbol to spread his message.

Former Prime Ministers Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and David Cameron have all signed his paddle, as well as a number of other European leaders.

The paddle has now been signed by the current Prime Minister Theresa May, after she was made aware of the project by Claire Perry, the new minister of state for energy and clean growth, after she signed the paddle herself earlier this year.

He now hopes Jeremy Corbyn, President Macron from France and President Xi from China will get behind his campaign.

Mr Train said: “With all the problems over Brexit, I am delighted she signed it.

“She was the fourth prime minister to sign a paddle for me so I am hoping to make it a tradition for all future prime ministers.

“After naming the bell boat Spirit of Tees Valley and the Climate Revolution in her constituency of Devizes, Claire Perry, the minister for of state for energy and clean growth volunteered to take the Paris Paddle for Life to get Theresa May to sign.

“Claire has a great interest in Tees Valley because of carbon capture and storage and regularly speaks to Ben Houchen about the Tees Valley CCS project.”

“Our aim is to get President Macron to sign the Paris Paddle for Life and Claire knows his climate change adviser.”

Darlington’s Jenny Chapman, Redcar’s Anna Turley, Middlesbrough’s Andy McDonald, Middlesbrough South and east Cleveland’s Simon Clarke, Stockton North’s Alex Cunningham, Stockton South’s Paul Williams and Hartlepool’s Mike Hill have all joined the list of MPs who have signed the paddle, along with Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen.

Mr Train is hoping the project will be completed in time for the Paris Olympics in 2024.

“Paris will hold the Olympics in 2024 and if all the children of Paris are on board by 2024 then the story would sweep the world, and with it the story of how it all started in Tees Valley.

“The Tees Valley story could shape the world and we will all win a gold medal.”

Mr Train spent 12 years as a Great Britain Olympic canoe coach and helped the teams who competed at the Los Angeles, Seoul, Barcelona and Atlanta games between 1984 and 1996.

He was responsible for designing the first Bell Boat, which helps to encourage people to take up water sports with its focus on large groups and team work.