PUPILS at a Hartlepool Primary School are not lacking direction when it comes to PE.

Orienteering is already a popular part of lessons at West Park Primary School, with pupils regularly visiting the town's Summerhill Country Park to take advantage of a course there.

Now, moves are under way to develop a course within the school's own grounds so that youngsters can practice their skills more easily.

A £587 grant from the Millennium Awards For All initiative is making it all possible, West Park being the first school in Hartlepool to receive such a hand-out.

The school is working with Cleveland Orienteering Club to map out the grounds.

Teacher Richard Davison, who is in charge of PE, said: "We have used Summerhill extensively and the pupils love it, but having our own orienteering course within the school grounds will be much more convenient.

"We have two large playing fields behind the school and another next to the school. We have a small pond and some wooded areas, which form interesting features around the course that can be created.

"Orienteering is an excellent outdoor activity, and fits in with the national curriculum, encouraging pupils to use their mathematical skills to plot courses by working out grid references.