Tackling obesity and developing a love of fitness in the outdoors is the main objective of fitness instructor Mark Hawkridge.

The personal trainer is holding free group bootcamp sessions for kids aged 10 and up on Thursday mornings throughout the summer.

He said his motivation is "giving kids things to do" and they'll certainly be doing lots - playing games and making things with equipment such as battle ropes, sand balls, Bulgarian sand bags, free weights and agility ladders.

The summer holiday opportunity has come along thanks to funding from Supporting Youth In Deal District, chaired by the mayor Cllr Eileen Rowbotham. The scheme is also supported by North Deal Community Company.

The cash means the kids sessions are entirely free for all. They last two hours and begin this Thursday (August 1) at 10am at North Deal Community Park in Western Road. They will be held each Thursday thereafter until August 22.

Mr Hawkridge has worked in the fitness industry for 15 years.

He will be known to many as a gym assistant at Tides Leisure Centre where he teaches circuits, Tabata and abs classes.

For those who don't use the centre, they may have seen him leading adult boot camp sessions in the outdoors along the beach in the North End.

Children of all fitness abilities are welcome. Parents should call Mr Hawkridge in advance on 07732 803567, but entry on the day is permitted so long as parents attend to sign their permission on a PAR Q form.