YOUNGSTERS bored with the school holidays are getting a £30,000 activity boost from Bolton Council.

From Monday, free sports and leisure sessions will be on offer for 11 to 18 year-olds.

The money has come through a borough plea for funds from the Home Office and Sport England, administered via the National Kids Club Network.

The new programme is aimed primarily at disadvantaged areas, but will include around 2,000 youngsters from the borough.

A spokesman for the borough's sports development said: "For some youngsters, it may well be their first or only opportunity to be involved in such activities.

"The aim then will be to try and keep them involved via mainstream sports development programmes, or by linking them into sports clubs and after school clubs."

In Breightmet, where there is no swimming pool, the new programme will offer free transport to Horwich pool.

The programme provides a useful sporting legacy, buying equipment for long-term use and setting up new schemes.

Outdoor activity and adventure mountain biking -- this will allow youngsters to experience safe routes and off-road terrain around Bolton. It will link in with next year's Commonwealth Games' cycling competition at Rivington, and allow for follow-up activities like cycling for 13 to 16 year-old girls as part of a health and exercise campaign.

Climbing, abseiling, canoeing and kayaking -- a series of outdoor dry and water-based activities to help develop expertise and boost confidence and personal skills.

Swimming sessions, lessons and life-saving classes -- there will be free swimming sessions open to all. But the programme will also help youngsters who cannot swim the National Curriculum requirement of 25m.

Pools in Sharples, Farnworth and Deane will target their local communities and Horwich Leisure Centre's pool will be for local youngsters and for children from areas without a pool.

Free vouchers are being printed in the Bolton Evening News, are available at local pools and will be given away at Bolton Show.

Coaching -- free coaching sessions are available for sports including basketball, football, netball, bowling and weights at Farnworth and Harper Green leisure centres.

Apart from the swimming vouchers, activities can be booked through 334212 between 10am and 4pm.

Cllr John Byrne, the council's executive member for leisure, said: "What a great opportunity for young people. Everyone knows taking part in regular exercise or activities can significantly improve people's health -- at whatever age."