FREE children’s sports activity days are to be organised by the town council in Watchet during future school holidays.

Town clerk Jo Grellier said the sessions would be funded thanks to the success of a £10,000 grant application to the Somerset Association of Local Councils (SALC) community health and wellbeing fund.

Ms Grellier said activities would include tennis coaching, multi-games, arts and crafts, and youth wellbeing sessions.

They would start with the October half-term break and continue until September of next year.

The funds would also support extra youth outreach services to help police tackling anti-social behaviour in Watchet.

Ms Grellier said the council wanted to promote the use of the Watchet War Memorial Recreation Ground for events, so the activities will be centred around it to encourage increased take up of sports clubs following taster sessions.

She said community car boot sales and family days could also be factored in if the funds were available.

Ms Grellier thanked the council’s asset management committee chairman Cllr John Irven for his ‘invaluable help’ with the SALC application and the initial concept.

She said a proposed programme of events was currently being drafted for the asset management committee to consider later in the month.

Ms Grellier said a successful family fun day and some youth activities days had already been held in Watchet during the summer.

The council provided a family fun day as part of Watchet Summertime, when many people had enjoyed the magic shows, balloon modelling, a Taylor Swift tribute act, and a disco.

Ms Grellier said: “The summer activities programme throughout the summer holidays has again been successful with over 80 youths enjoying free sports, performing arts, and games activity days to encourage health and wellbeing, and providing vital childcare support for our residents.”