SECONDARY school pupils can continue to take part in physical activities thanks to a new transport grant.

Roefield Leisure Centre in Clitheroe has been handed a £1,500 Ribble Valley Homes Community grant to pay for more than 200 students from two secondary schools to get to the centre.

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The pupils, from Ribblesdale High in Clitheroe and St Augustine’s RC High School, Billington, have been able to take part in sports and activities not available in school.

These included body combat, archery, gymnasium and spinning classes, climbing and five-a-side football.

Neil Ashworth, sports department manager at the centre, said the funding was vital.

He said: “We really wanted this grant to help transport kids to the centre.

“Travel can be very expensive and lots of pupils who come here could not afford to come and take part without this grant.

“The classes mean the pupils get to experience a new form of exercise which their schools could never facilitate.

“We get great feedback of the schools who have been and now even more can come.

“Each student will come to the centre once a week for six weeks and try every activity out so they get the full benefit.”

Andy Kelly, lead teacher for PE at St Augustine’s, said the grant meant the activities were available to even more youngsters.

He said: “It’s a massive boost for us and the children.

“We used to be able to take around 14 children at a time, but now we have a new double decker bus and can take 50 to 60 pupils at a time.

“These classes give so much back to the children. It gives them the confidence to try new sports and hopefully continue with one of them outside of the sessions.

“It’s our aim in the sports department to make sure these pupils want to continue their physical education after they leave school and with these opportunities the chances of this happening increase.

“A wide range of children go to the centre, those with disabilities and special needs.

“I really would like to thank Neil and all the effort him and his team at the centre has given. Without him, none of this would be possible.”