Two-goal derby hero Shola Ameobi and Hungarian defender Tamas Kadar paid a visit to Moorside Community Primary School this week to see Newcastle United Foundation's Match Fit programme in action.

Ameobi, who struck twice against Sunderland in the 5-1 derby win, said: "To be a professional footballer, you need to be fit and active - but that kind of lifestyle can only benefit anybody, no matter what walk of life you're from or how old you are.

"Tamas and I had a great time getting that message across to the school pupils by walking with them. It's just a good thing we'd had a couple of days to recover from our efforts against Sunderland, because we gave everything we had that afternoon and there was plenty of walking to be done across the school yard! The youngsters were great, though, and hopefully they enjoyed it as much as we did."

Match Fit is funded by the Premier League PFA Community Fund and Heart Research UK, and delivered in partnership with Newcastle Nutrition and North of Tyne PCT.

Using the city's passion for football, the programme is aiming to tackle the rising problem of childhood obesity. Foundation Coaching Staff deliver the six week Match Fit course in 10 west end primary schools in the West End of Newcastle and the programme is now in its second year in this part of the city.

During the six week programme, Match Fit aims to increase pupils' fitness levels, improve their knowledge of healthy food and nutrition and stress the importance of a healthy heart. The course includes measuring heart rates before and after physical activity plus lessons on the benefits of regular exercise, warming up and cooling down, foods for fuel and healthy drinks and snacks.