ENERGETIC youngsters hopped, skipped and jumped their way through activities at a sport fair in Budmouth Community Sports Centre.

Hundreds of pupils put their skills to the test in such sports as football, netball and athletics during the first event of its kind in the complex at Budmouth Technology College in Weymouth.

The youngsters from Budmouth and its surrounding feeder schools also tried trampolining and skateboarding, and learned about the excitement of windsurfing, Sailing and rowing before members of the public were allowed in later in the afternoon.

West Dorset District Council organised the extravaganza with backing from the school, sports centre and Weymouth and Portland Borough Council to give people a taste of the activities on offer in the area.

Callum Guest, 12, who was trying out a windsurfer, said: "It was fun. I might like to join a club."

Alex Surgison was on hand from Windtek to give youngsters guidance on the windsurfer and Tom Cross from Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy had a boat on show for pupils to jump into.

Felicity Smith, 11, and Kelly Jones, 11, took giant strides forward in the athletics section. Kelly said: "I like running and jumping. I had a good time."

Felicity added: "I did the triple jump. I enjoyed it and think the sports fair was cool."

Sarah Hawthorne, district council sports development officer, said the aim was to get more young people into sports clubs.

She was on hand at the event with assistant sports development officer Emily Bloxham and sports development manager Denise Camp.

Budmouth teacher Clare Bulford said: "The children were full of it. We hope to open up their eyes to sports outside of school and give them a good opportunity to have a look at these clubs."

Alice Mercer said she enjoyed the trampolining. Robert Harrington, 10, from Portesham Primary School, said: "I enjoyed the skateboarding and I didn't fall off."

Emily Booker, aged 10, tried inline skating with a little help from her friend Lisa Robinson. She said: "It was my first time and I wasn't very good but I did enjoy myself."