A RUGBY league professional is helping children in and out of schools in his native York to keep fit the safe way.

Danny Allen has teamed up with teacher and amateur rugby league player Jonny Payne to provide training in keep fit techniques to children.

They run classes at Swift Fitness gym, Mansfield Street, in the city centre for children aged 12 to 16 out of school time and work with schools, helping teachers to provide keep fit classes for younger children.

“I worked in schools when I was with Featherstone Rovers, telling children how to be physically active and when we started the gym, that has spurred me on,” he said.

“A lot of children get told to go to the gym and get involved, but they don’t know how to do it correctly. “They are still growing and still developing. “

He said Jonny and he gear their exercises to each child’s stage of physical development.