NURSERY pupils are learning badminton from a Common-wealth gold medallist thanks to a unique partnership.

Bournemouth Day Nursery has joined forces with Helen Troke MBE to offer weekly coaching sessions to three and four-year-olds.

Nursery owner Natalie Steele said: “Providing a healthy lifestyle is one of the most important things we feel we can offer our children.

“Healthy eating is a big part of our ethos and we have a chef to cook fresh food on our premises.

“Physical activity is also very important and we include dance and sport as part of our service.

“But we are always looking at different and new ways we can make getting fit and healthy an enjoyable part of the day.

“So when we heard Helen was looking to extend her coaching to younger children it seemed a perfect opportunity for us.”

Helen added: “Most children don’t start racquet sports until they are about six and I wanted to give coaching with younger children a go to see if they would cope with it and above all enjoy it – and they really do.

“Introducing any kind of sport at such a young age can only be a good thing as it encourages them to be fit and healthy from the start.”