FROM fencing to freestyle football and wheelchair basketball to ballroom dancing, pupils at Avon Valley College got the chance to try out some new sports at a participation day.

The whole school took part in a day of sports aimed at introducing students to new sports and showing them what's available in their local area.

The Durrington school welcomed 21 different sports clubs and organisations from across the area to run taster sessions on cheerleading, golf, martial arts and archery.

Personal training instructors from Larkhill Camp ran some fitness drills and football freestyler Ash Randall performed a demonstration of the skills that have earned him eight Guinness World Records, and then taught the youngsters some of his tricks.

About 360 students were involved; each choosing three activities and spending an hour and a half learning each.

Collette Harries from the college said: “It went really well. The favourite thing was the wheelchair basketball, the kids loved it. It just opened their eyes to what sports are out there that we don't do within the curriculum.

“I hope we motivated some of them to take up a new sport. It's also a great opportunity for children across Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 to mix - there's so much more social interaction.”