WHEN Kieran Breese's mum complained about him playing computer games instead of going outdoors, taking the games console outside was probably not the solution she had in mind.

However, the idea dreamt up by the 10-year-old, from Park Hall, has captured the imagination of his classmates at St Maria Goretti Catholic Primary School, in Bucknall.

The children now want to create a playground shelter to play a Nintendo Wii outside and incorporate it into PE lessons.

Pupils selected the Wii because it encourages more physical activity than traditional consoles.

Kieran said: "If we get the Wiis we'll be keeping fit, using our brains, learning how to use new technology and having fun – we'll be killing four birds with one stone."

"My mum always has a go at me for being cooped up inside playing games so if we did it outside we'd get fresh air."

The children also want to purchase some Nintendo DS handheld consoles, along with a game called Brain Training so that they can exercise their minds as well as their bodies.

Teacher Lyndsey Frost said: "I think it will motivate the children to be fitter, with most computer games it's just sitting around so the Wii's better for that.

"The DS will also be good for Brain Training. I think it sounds like a really good idea and I'm glad they're thinking about vandalism, putting it out and putting it away and how many they get so everyone has a fair share."

Now the school is entering The Sentinel's and Barclays' Class Act competition in the hope of winning a £5,000 prize.

Kieran's classmates are brimming with ideas for games they want to play.

Rowan O'Neill, aged 10, from Bucknall, said: "There's a canoeing game, which gets you fit but is also fun.

"There's Wii Sports Resort and Wii Fit. You can have dance mats and stuff that you connect to the Wii.

"It will make me do more sport and we can do it in our break times, PE lessons and anytime we can grab hold of."

Gabriele Sarosiek, aged 11, from Bentilee, said: "When we do PE people are silly, but I think they'd be better behaved because Miss could take privilege time off them.

"Brain Training would be good, because we'd be learning, but we'd remember it because it is fun.

"I want to play snowboarding on the Wii Fit because you're using your whole body.

"The Wii lets you experience things you can't normally, like snowboarding."