A SCHOOL in Garston was presented with basketball equipment worth £6,000 last Friday.

St Michael's School in High Elms Lane, was given six basketball nets, worth £1,000 each, by the National Outdoor Basketball Initiative, funded through the National Sports Lottery Fund.

Head of PE Mr Glen Pettengell, who had bid for the nets, said: 'I am delighted because we only have one indoor facility and it is difficult to get all students to access it more than once a week.'

He said the children would no longer be restricted to using the nets only during PE lessons, adding: 'It now means the children can take responsibility for their own learning and development.'

The wider community is being encouraged to use the facilities outside school hours.

Mr Pettengell said: 'There are too many students sitting in front of computer games and this is an opportunity to do something outdoors.'

The courts were unveiled last Friday by Mr John Ridgewell, national competitions secretary for the English Schools' Basketball Association. Pupils were put through their paces by coaches from the Watford Basketball Club, and West Herts Warriors.