STUDENTS from Bournemouth colleges are using their free time to encourage youngsters to swap video games for sport.

The student leaders from Avonbourne and Harewood colleges have teamed up with Asda Castlepoint to support local primary schools host and run their annual sports days.

While Asda provides healthy snacks and water for the young athletes, the leaders from the two colleges organise many of the sporting events the children participate in.

This is part of the Asda Active initiative, which has received more than £1.5million of funding from the Spirit of 2012 Trust to get young people more active.

The Asda Active Sports Days are organised by local teenage volunteers who have taken sports leaders qualifications at school.

Executive head teacher of Avonbourne and Harewood colleges, Debbie Godfrey-Phaure, said: “We are very proud of our sports leaders who are doing an invaluable job supporting the community’s primary schools’ sports days.

“The students are volunteering their time because they are passionate about sport and enjoy working with the younger children. They are great ambassadors for the colleges.”

Most recently, the group of leaders supported St James Primary School’s sports day, which was held at the Athletics Stadium in Kings Park, Bournemouth.

There they supported the school staff to arrange a whole host of athletics and field events for more than 400 children.

They marshalled the children to each event, such as long jump, high jump, shot-put and track running races.

Ally Brown, PE co-ordinator at St James School, said: “We simply could not put on a sports day like this without the help of the student leaders. Thanks to the leaders support we are able to host far more than a traditional style sports day and instead we’re able to put on a real Olympic-style event for them to enjoy.”