BOLTON Schools are going table tennis crazy.

Youngsters all over the town are grabbing the chance to try their hand at the sport.

Dozens of pupils at Mount St Joseph’s, Hayward and St James’s have taken part in coaching sessions for the last 10 weeks.

Another three schools will get the same level of coaching in the new year with many more getting their turn over the next three years.

The project is aimed at giving youngsters in Bolton and all over the country a first chance to play a sport which is not part of the usual school curriculum.

The aim is that they will continue, and maybe develop into top players, if they are bitten by the bug and show promise.

The most recent 10-week course, which was organised by Farnworth Table Tennis Club as part of the government’s Sport Unlimited project, concluded with a tournament between the three participating schools and Harper Green which hosted the competition.

It was won by Harper Green with St James’s second, Mount St Joseph’s third and Hayward fourth.

Another tournament, involving six schools who have benefited from the coaching sessions, will be held at the end of the next 10-week block of coaching.

In summer every school in the town will have the chance to take part in the Bolton Schools Table Tennis Championships which began last year.

Former British champion, Andrea Holt, the North-west table tennis development officer, said: “It’s part of a government programme which is trying to give kids a chance to play sports other than the traditional sports played at schools.

“It’s a three-year programme nationally which is aimed at giving youngsters the opportunity to try out the sport and see if they like it and want to take it further.

“Most of the youngsters today will never have experienced playing in a competition before, so, hopefully, this will be their first step onto the competition pathway for table tennis.”