THE number of children representing their village school in sports tournaments has doubled — thanks to the Olympic legacy.

Children at Blackrod Church School finished the year on a sporting high.

Not only did pupils win a number of sporting trophies, the primary school also saw a record number of youngsters representing the school.

The village school received £9,000 for sports as part of the Olympic legacy grants scheme.

Headteacher James Royal said: “We have 140 children representing the school in different sports. This is the double the number we had in previous years.”

The school has won a number of trophies in cricket and rounders, and performed well in other competitions, including the girls cricket team coming second.

Mr Royal said money had allowed the school to run a number of sports clubs after school hours.

He added that the school has had three aims using grant money — to develop excellent PE teaching, give children an opportunity to enjoy competitive sports and to use it to promote healthy living by encouraging young people to get active in different ways.

Mr Royal said: “We entered two teams into the Horwich and Blackrod Primary Schools tournament and they ended up playing each other and came first and second.”

It was announced recently that primary schools will receive an additional £750 million for sports between now and the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics as part of the legacy from the London Games.