A NEW deal for school sports has been welcomed by MP David Chaytor.

The Government wants to ensure that youngsters have a minimum of two hours a week spent on high-quality PE.

Every child will be given the right to take part in all the main sports including athletics, swimming, gymnastics, dance and outdoor activities.

The new policy is employing 1,000 school sports co-ordinators, with a further £130 million spent in primary schools. There is also £750 million from the New Opportunities Fund for creating first-class sports facilities and programmes in and around schools.

Mr Chaytor, MP for Bury North, said sport had long been under-funded, but Britain's tally of 28 medals at the Sydney Olympics showed that new investment was starting to bring results.

He added: "The outlook for sport in this country is now rosier than it has been for a generation. We must now build on our early successes and put in place a system which delivers sport for all, from the earliest school days right through to our elite medal-winners."