BUDDING sports stars can look forward to sharpening their skills over the half-term holiday.

Middlesbrough's 60 most promising young athletes will be enjoying a programme of activities including sessions of rugby, table tennis, athletics and gymnastics.

The event is being organised by Middlesbrough Council's sports development team and funded by King's Manor School, the town's specialist sports college.

The ten and 11-year-olds all come from the King's Manor's six feeder primary schools - Hemlington Hall, Linthorpe, Newport, Newham Bridge, Green Lane and Ayresome -and it is hoped the gifted youngsters will benefit from the specialist coaching.

Coaches for the sessions, which will be held at Corpus Christi School's new Spaces for Sports and Arts venue, will be coming from Middlesbrough Rugby Club, Middlesbrough Mandale Athletics Club, Ormesby Table Tennis Club and Tees Valley Gymnastics Club.

Sports development officer Scott Hydon said: "The idea is to link up young people who have displayed a gift for sport with clubs in Middlesbrough.

"This means that the children are getting an excellent introduction to the sports of their choice and making sure they use good-quality facilities under expert supervision.

"We're also organising two workshops for parents to give them more information about the Gifted and Talented programme and what we're doing to support it."

The talented youngsters will enjoy morning and afternoon sessions tomorrow, Wednesday and Thursday.