Budding athletes enjoyed a punchy week to champion every sort of sport.

Barking and Dagenham Post: Youngsters turned their hands to everything from fencing to boccia during the week of sports.Youngsters turned their hands to everything from fencing to boccia during the week of sports. (Image: � SWNS.com)

More than 1,000 primary school children from 20 schools took part in charity SportInspired’s third annual festival in Dagenham last week – sampling everything from boxing to boccia.

The sports club sign-up week at Goresbrook School in Ripple Road is designed to help tackle the current level of obesity in the borough, which currently stands at a shocking 28.5 per cent.

Charity co-founder Richard Raynes said: “We are keen for children to try different sports to find the one which really fires up a passion in their belly, in the hope that this enthusiasm will keep them playing the sport far beyond their schooling years.”

In the past six months the club has focused on pathway clubs, which direct children to local community sports clubs in the catchment area of their school.

Cllr Maureen Worby, chair of health and wellbeing board, said: “Our work with SportInspired has given the younger members of our community the motivation and encouragement to get active and make a real difference.”

Go to sportinspired.com for more information.