PUPILS and staff are celebrating becoming one of the top sports providers in the country.

Westholme School, Blackburn, became one of only 95 schools in the country to be awarded a National Sportsmark Gold Award.

The award demonstrates an outstanding commitment to school sport provision including excellence in its Physical Education programme, a high standard of out-of-hours sporting opportunities and a dedication to enabling school sport to move into the community.

Lillian Croston, Principal of Westholme School, said: "This award is a real attainment by the PE department at Westholme. The team, led by Debbie Catlow, is enthusiastic and committed to giving the best possible opportunity to the girls.

"They have allowed PE and sport to develop as a real focus of school life."