TEACHERS are pioneering a new way of getting youngsters active after being the first in the country to be trained in providing Nordic Walking lessons.

A group at Crawshawbooth Primary School have been certified to teach the method which uses walking poles to give the whole body a workout.

The course was recently launched by British Nordic Walking and enables them to deliver it in schools by not only teaching the correct technique but also hosting fun activities for the children and staff to do.

It will now be included in the PE curriculum at the Burnley Road school for pupils aged seven to nine.

Nordic Walking is based on cross-country skiing which uses specially designed walking poles to harness the power of the upper body.

PE teacher Tony Hartley set up the scheme with deputy headteacher Lyndsay Davison.

He said: “It is so that children who do not take part in sports like football, rugby and cricket will have another opportunity. It is part of our outdoor and adventurous PE curriculum.

“We will start teaching it in the summer term. We’ve got 40 children’s poles and five adult ones.

“It is quite a technical sport. It uses all the muscles in the body even though it does not seem like it is that difficult. They are using a lot of energy so we are hoping it will have an impact.

“We’re also hoping to get a parent and children after school club going next year.”

Hamish Willis and Catherine Hughes of British Nordic Walking delivered the training for the staff.

Mr Willis said it is an ideal activity to help fight the increasing rise of obesity amongst children and adults.

He said: “It is a whole body experience that teaches co-ordination, balance, agility."