THE number of children in the borough who signed up to council-organised activities during the school summer holidays rose to more than 11,000 this year.

The authority's cabinet member for children and young people, Cllr Clare Coghill, said she was delighted at the figure.

It represents a rise of 33 per cent rise from just over 8,000 the year before.

The council says the numbers include those who took part in its Schools Open for Summer programme, its Summer University scheme and events at libraries.

Cllr Coghill said: "We made a particular effort in our Schools Open for Summer programme this year, expanding from a base of 24 schools in 2011 to 54 this summer.

"Because we made the programme so much bigger and better this year we were able to attract a much broader range of children and young people by offering everything from circus skills to creative writing.

“We literally had children as young as five and young people up to the age of 19, or even 25 if they had a disability. Many activities were free, but even those paid-for events were obviously of enough interest to really engage people to want to attend and be a part of it."