LEIGH'S Active Life team has been praised for helping children keep fit during the summer holiday.

Scores of 14 to 16 years olds took advantage of a cut rate silver six passes offering unlimited use of the borough's leisure centres -- and Linc card offers are still available.

Wigan Council Cabinet member for culture, Cllr Brian Baldwin, said youngsters' interest in fitness and sport was a benefit to everyone.

He said: "I'm sure parents were delighted. Young people had something worthwhile and meaningful to do during the long summer break.

"The team is to be congratulated on the scheme which has given young people somewhere to go and something to do. They are often quite wrongly painted as disaffected and intent on causing mischief when they are on the street, but Active Life has given them an alternative."