CHILDREN at a County Durham school have been presented with a PE kit because their old kit was so bright it was attracting thunder flies.

The luminous yellow tops were designed to make Esh Winning Primary School stand out in the crowd at sports events.

But the tops had to go when teachers realised they were attracting bugs that were upsetting the youngsters.

Manager of Skipton Building Society, in Newcastle, Barbara Rochester, offered to help and has donated £300 to buy 30 blue polo tops for the junior school pupils.

PE co-ordinator Jean Mace said: "We are really grateful.

"The old tops were attracting thunder flies because they like the colour, but they were really itchy.

"We are over the moon because we wouldn't have been able to afford the new strips ourselves."

Mrs Rochester offered to help because her grandchildren Jordan Kidd, 11, and six-year-old Thomas Naylor attend the school.

She said: "The children were very worried about the insects so it was nice to be able to help out. We do a lot of this sort of thing and we are keen to provide support to the local community."