MORE than £500,000 is to be invested in schemes to help young people in deprived former mining communities become fit and healthy.

The cash, from the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund, will fund a two-year scheme in north Durham, run by Derwentside Health Improvement Group.

It will target the under-25s in the most deprived areas of the district. A tobacco control scheme to cut smoking will get £83,750 and £437,550 will go on tackling child obesity.

Group chairman and director of public health Anne Low said: "We have got to improve the health of everyone in the district, but we need to improve the health of the least well-off the fastest.

"This grant is a major boost and we are very excited about implementing the programme."

Much of the programme will be delivered by Derwentside Primary Care Trust (PCT). It aims to cut high death rates from coronary heart disease, strokes and cancer.

The number of people dying from these in the district is about 35 per cent above the average for England and Wales.

Obesity in children is also rising, leading to an increase in child diabetes.

Projects will include boosting the campaign to get everyone eating five portions of fresh fruit and vegetables a day.

The PCT will work in partnership with Derwentside Leisure, which will expand its sports and activities programme for young people.

This will include providing activities in 25 schools and community centres, plus putting on free transport for outside activities.

Community Health Champions will be recruited from existing community groups and trained to spread the health message in their towns and villages.

Derwentside Leisure's Sports and activities manager Colin McBride said: "Hopefully, we can make a significant impact on the problems that affect people in Derwentside. At the minute, we have only limited resources and deliver what we can."