A NEW headteacher has pledged to make his school a "hub" for all of the sports activity in the area.

Bob Flood said he was delighted to return to Norden High School and Sports College, Rishton, where he used to be deputy head.

And he said that he was determined to carry on the good work of his predecessor Denise Parkinson, who left her position due to ill health.

Mr Flood also welcomed the news that a Hyndburn Academy, a business-run super-school could be created in Accrington on the site of Moorhead High School.

But he said that the scheme would only work if it was for the benefit of all children in the borough, and not just those who attended the academy.

He said: "Investment in education in Hyndburn is something to be welcomed but it will only work if it is focussed across the borough and not just the academy."

Mr Flood officially took over at the school today after spending the last three years as headteacher at Glenburn Sports College, Skelmersdale.

The married father-of-two, who lives near Chorley, said: "I know the area really well and I'm looking forward to building on the good work of the previous head."

Norden is a specialist sports college and has been designated as a "hub" school for local educational and community sporting needs.

A £1.3 million sports centre was opened at the Stourton Street school last year.

He said: "Our community links are very strong and I am determined to work for the development of school sports in Hyndburn.

"Sports and physical activity can help young people with so many things.

"Teamwork, coping with defeat and of course the health benefits are all something we want to promote."

Mr Flood said that Norden's academic strengths were something else that he wanted to build on.

He said: "We are very strong in the core curriculum areas.

"Our success with English and maths results show that there is a very strong backbone of skills at the school."