More sports have been added to the Premier League 4 Sport (PL4S) participation initiative after it was revealed the programme had exceeded its engagement targets by 50 per cent.

The programme was launched in 2009 in order to provide young people with the chance to try four Olympic sports - badminton, judo, table tennis and volleyball.

More than 39,000 youngsters have now benefited from the scheme, exceeding the target of 25,000, and the Premier League has pledged to invest a further £2m in PL4S.

The new sports to be offered under the programme will include basketball, handball, netball and hockey. PL4S is run by the Premier League, Sport England and the Youth Sport Trust.

Culture secretary Jeremy Hunt said: "The PL4S scheme has already involved tens of thousands of young people and has given a huge boost to grassroots sport.

"Initiatives like this will do a huge amount to help deliver the government's plans to encourage young people to develop a sporting habit for life."

Details: www.premierleague.com