GIRLS in Derwentside have been getting extra help from a football coaching programme.

The Derwentside Girls and Women's Football Action Group, launched by Derwentside Leisure, won a £4,795 Awards For All grant to run sessions in district primary schools.

Eighteen out of 31 schools took part, and 216 girls received four weeks of coaching in and out of school time.

Two football festivals, involving 240 girls, were held last month.

The Derwentside Secondary Schools Girls' Football Festival was held at Stanley School of Technology, where the home team won the year eight and nine competition.

The year seven competition was won by Moorside Community School, Consett.

Burnhope Primary School hosted a football festival for primary schools, which attracted 16 schools.

A Derwentside Leisure Services spokeswoman said: "The sports development team continues to be actively involved with the group, supporting it on both a practical and strategic level.

"The success of the schools' coaching programme and local football festivals has demonstrated that girls' football is hugely popular in Derwentside."