Rising cost of children's sports

Families are spending almost £700 a year on their children's sporting costs, partly to tempt them away from sitting in front of the TV or computer, according to new research.

A survey of 1,450 parents by finance firm ING Direct showed that swimming, football and cycling were the most popular activities for youngsters.

Some parents spent more than £3,000 a year on sport for their children and cut back on their own social life to ferry their children to and from sporting venues and competitions.

ING Direct chief executive Johan de Wit said the Olympics had a positive effect on children's involvement in sport, adding: "For many parents, the costs involved in extra coaching, buying kit and ferrying the kids around can come as a shock."

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