YOUNGSTERS in York are to get a £65,000 reward for doing more exercise.

The number of young people taking part in at least two hours of high-quality PE and sport each week has risen dramatically in the last twelve months, a survey has shown.

The percentage of five to 16-year-olds achieving that target has now reached 90 per cent.

This figure is well above the national average of 86 per cent and a major improvement on the 62 per cent in 2005/06.

It also exceeds the very challenging 2007/08 target of 85 per cent and has secured the council £65,000 of Government reward grant. The findings come from the latest PE School Sport Club Links national survey of school sports partnerships.

The annual survey measures the performance of school sports partnerships in ten key areas of PE and school sport. The survey also shows that the number of York pupils volunteering in school or community sporting activities has increased by 3.5 per cent from last year, taking the total to 8.5 per cent.

In addition, six per cent of pupils in York's schools have been identified as being "gifted and talented" in sport and many of them attended York's first sporting camp for gifted and talented children in the summer.

The survey also found that, on average, a total of 17 different sports or physical activities are offered by each of York's schools to its pupils.

This includes activities offered in pre and after-school clubs and lunchtimes, as well as during the school day.

Schools in the city achieve an average of 115 minutes per week of sport and PE lessons.

A City of York Council spokesperson said: "We were absolutely delighted that the hard work of the council's Sports and Active Leisure team and the School Sports Partnership resulted in us exceeding our targets one year early.

"However, we still have some tough targets to meet aimed at getting adults to become more active and are continuing to work hard to ensure that we also succeed in the area. News of the extra £65,000 in funding is fantastic and we will be looking at how best this can be used."

Liz Burkinshaw, the council's PE and school sport consultant, said: "Our focus is now to encourage more people to take part in sporting, dance or multi-skill clubs outside of the school day.

"Having such a broad range of opportunities offered to pupils means that they can have a more personalised experience of PE and school sport at school."

The success of school sport in York was recognised last year when double Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes met pupils at the former Oaklands School. Anyone wanting more information about sports clubs for young people in York can visit www.yortime.org.uk or phone the council's community leisure team on 01904 553393