A MULTI-SPORTS summer school at Ulverston Leisure Centre proved to be a massive hit with children, writes JAMES MADDEN.

The camp, which ran across the span of the holidays, provided an array of different sporting activities for five to 11-year-olds.

Hannah Paling, who is one of the organisers of the activities, is overjoyed with how popular the six-week event proving to be.

“It has been really well attended, especially compared to last summer," she said.

“This year we have made much more of an effort with advertising, so it has had a knock-on effect.

"We have swimming, cricket, rounders, bouncy castles for the younger ones, there really is something for everybody. Most days we have had 40 kids attending."

The camp ran five days a week and last for five hours each day. Children were split into three categories, depending on age.

As well as a wide range of sports available for the children, themed weeks, including an Olympic Special were put on in an attempt to attract even more youngsters.

“We had a tennis week, a soccer school and an Olympic-style week, to try and keep it as varied as possible,” said Paling.

In the build-up to the summer school, Paling and her team spent hours visiting places across the area to build up awareness about the summer programme.

“In the past, I think the major issue we faced was not many people knew about us," she said.

"We have spent a huge amount of time off-site at places like Ford Park and schools in Broughton, just to let people know anyone is welcome."

With the summer camps proving to be a massive hit, Paling has already started planning for the next event, which will be held in the October half-term.

“In the past, I was wary about planning too far ahead because you were never sure if you would have the numbers," she said.

"Thankfully that isn’t the case any more and I’m more than confident that the next event will be even more popular."