A NEW type of sports extravaganza is being held for Malvern Hills youngsters during the Easter holidays.

Sport Zone, organised by the district council, will give up to 120 youngsters, aged 11-13, from all over the district, the chance to receive expert coaching in hockey, football, cricket, basketball and dance.

The week long training sessions will end with a mass tournament at which teams representing the Malvern and Tenbury Wells areas will play the sports they have learnt against each other.

Simon Rusling, the council's sport and recreation officer, said: "This is something we have never done before and there is a lot of excitement about it. Young people of this age love to have a competition and we aim to make sure that they get a really good one. They will even get the chance to have a go at rock climbing during the finals day because it is taking place at Sport Martley, which has a practice wall.

"We are also offering a pick-up service with our Sport and Recreation minibus so this means that no-one will be prevented from taking part simply because they live in one of the more remote areas of the district."

Sports Zone is taking place during April 14-18. During the first four days, there will be morning coaching sessions for 60 Malvern children at Chase High School and coaching in the afternoon for 60 Tenbury children at Tenbury High School.

Then on the fifth day all the youngsters will be bused to Sport Martley for the finals tournament. The cost for the week is £22 per head, with a concessionary price of £10 per head for families on benefit.

The council is also organising holiday activity schemes for children aged 5-12 at Tenbury Wells Primary School, Sport Martley, The Chase school in Malvern and Upton Hill Community Centre.

A wide range of activities is being laid on during April 22-25 for up to 40 youngsters at each of the four venues including arts and crafts, home movie making and cookery.

The cost per head is £14 per day or £48 for four days with a half price concession for families on benefit.