YOUNGSTERS from East Durham will be enjoying a taste of the outdoor life this month as part of a drive to develop social and personal skills.

Children from every infant and primary school in Easington, Seaham and Peterlee will be taking part in the initiative, organised through the Education Action Zone.

Each day until the end of the month, up to 100 children will gather at the Moor House Scout Centre on the outskirts of Durham City, to take part in a range of outdoor group tasks and initiatives.

They have been specially designed to develop problem solving, social, physical and team-building skills.

Event organiser Alan Duff, from Durham County Council's physical education advisory unit, said: "For many this will be their first experience of working in such an outdoor environment.

"Everyone involved in the event is hoping it will have a lasting and favourable impression on the children.

"A wide variety of activities are planned and it should be very educational and a lot of fun."

The ten-day series of activities are just the first planned by partners Durham LEA, the Education Action Zone and World Challenge Expeditions.