A WEEKLY game of football with a difference has been the first recipient of cash from a council small grants scheme.

The walking football project in Northallerton has been awarded £1,500 for equipment, room hire, volunteer costs and pedometers.

The money has come from Hambleton District Council's small grants scheme for 2017/18.

The project runs on Mondays at Hambleton Leisure Centre from 4pm to 5pm, and was been set up by the district council and Age UK to tackle inactivity in older people. Age UK's Paul Fisher said: "Walking Football is not a new concept. It is growing in popularity especially among older or less physically active people because it involves walking rather than running and engages both males and females as it is less aggressive, more social and great for all abilities."

The council is offering grants of between £500 and £2,500 to community projects that help people get active, reduce loneliness and isolation, improve affordable warmth or tackle anti-social behaviour.