Manchester City Council

The latest craze has been prompted by skipping workshops held at the school for 300 of its older pupils between the ages of 8 and 11. The workshops, led by skipping coach George Kubu, involved the children learning basic skipping techniques, a number of tricks and group games to encourage teamwork. Lunchtime organizers were invited along to co-ordinate skipping games during break times.

David How, Head teacher at Beaver Road Primary School said: "We wanted to revive skipping in school to show the children that keeping fit can be fun. We have now purchased a range of new skipping ropes as well as some CDs of "Skipping rhymes" so that children can sing along as they skip in time to the music. This has been a great success so far. If this continues then we hope to form a skipping team in school so that children can compete."

Councillor Jeff Smith, Executive member for children's services at Manchester City Council said: "Any initiative that encourages children to stay fit and healthy is a good thing. The workshops at Beaver Road sound like great fun and have shown that getting enough exercise can include doing something as simple and cheap as skipping."

• Abi Stark or Jane Lemon, tel: 0161 234 3179