Two schools are to receive Life Fitness equipment worth more than £40,000 after winning the Fitter Schools UK Challenge 2008, run by the healthy lifestyle activities provider, Fit For Sport.

Longford Community School in Hounslow, Middlesex, beat 1,700 other schools to be named the UK’s fittest secondary school after recording the highest level of overall fitness, while Newcastle Community High School in Newcastle-Under-Lyme, Staffordshire, showed the most improvement.

More than one million school children took part in the free challenge which is backed by former England footballer, Ian Wright, making it the largest activity initiative and assessment in the UK. Participating children improved their average fitness by 12.8 per cent over the 14-week challenge, while pupils from Newcastle Community High School improved their fitness by 20.5 per cent.