A Sport England grant of �7,824 means a north Norfolk club can train children in surf life-saving skills.

Adam Frere-Smith, chairman of the North Norfolk Surf Life-Saving Club, is delighted with the cash which he said would be used to develop a junior section for the under 16s.

The club, based on Cromer's east beach, will use the money to buy equipment such as wetsuits and rescue boards for the youngsters, ready to begin training them when the season gets under way again next April.

Mr Frere-Smith hoped they would be able to take on about 20 full-time juniors and also offer free taster sessions.

Recruits would learn life-saving, water-safety and first-aid skills. 'It's wonderful news - just what we've been waiting for in order for the club to develop,' said Mr Frere-Smith. 'It's really good to establish a new generation of surf life-savers on the north Norfolk coast for Cromer and Sheringham.'

The club, formed in 2008, has over 40 adult members and aims to supply volunteer lifeguards to patrol local beaches, and provide opportunities for those interested in surf life-saving to improve their skills and competitive fitness.

A group of eight members will be under taking a gruelling end-of-season beach-to-beach fitness challenge on September 5 when they will paddle a board from Sheringham to East Runton, swim from East Runton to Cromer, run from Cromer to Trimingham and then cycle from Trimingham to Sea Palling.

The feat is in preparation for the national surf life-saving championships which take place in Polzeath, Cornwall, on September 11. The north Norfolk club competed for the first time last year and is taking down a 14-strong team this time.