Children and their families will be taught how to look after their hearts thanks to a grant of nearly £10,000.

The funding, from Heart Research UK and the sandwich franchise Subway, will support the charitable arm of Guiseley Football club through a project which encourages pupils and their families to eat better, exercise more and look after their heart health.

The grant was handed over to the foundation during a pre-season friendly match between Guiseley and Bradford City in front of more than 2,000 spectators.

The six week programme will not just focus on the children but also on their families. The pupils will spend five weeks learning all about the function and mechanics of the heart, the role of exercise, impacts of lifestyle choices and engage in a 45 minute sports session each week.

On the sixth week of the programme they will present everything they have learnt in a Healthy Heart Assembly to their peers, parents and school staff.

Alongside the education programme for pupils the Guiseley Community Foundation will be running a, ‘10 more, 1 less’ challenge for adults to increase physical activity by ten minutes and eat one thing less a day.

The project hopes to reach 450 young people across three schools in the Bradford area. They will also target 57 school staff and parents in the ’10 more, 1 less’ daily challenge.

Trudi Hannaford, Manager of the Guiseley Community Foundation said: "We are thrilled to have been awarded this grant for our Lion Hearts project which will start in the next academic year.

"The heart health education programme project is targeted primarily at primary aged children but will also encourage parents and staff to make a difference to their hearts through the ‘10 More, 1 Less’ programme - doing 10 minutes more exercise a day and consume one thing less per day from a biscuit to a cigarette."

Barbara Harpham, National Director at Heart Research UK said: "It’s great to see a grant like this that not only teaches pupils the importance of heart health, but also encourages their parents and teachers to get involved too. It is so important that all ages are taught the importance of looking after your heart.”

Manaaz Akhtar, Regional Marketing Director for the Subway brand in the UK and Ireland, said: "Thanks to the fundraising efforts of our staff and customers in the Yorkshire region, we have managed to support a unique community project which will help to promote heart health."