A GROUP of 31 North East students will compete in the national finals of a major sports competition this weekend.

The students - from Darlington’s Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College - will travel to the University of Bath on Friday March 22 to take part in the British Colleges’ Sport National Finals.

The annual competition will see more than 2500 regional champions compete in 14 different sports.

The Darlington students, who have already won regional titles, will represent the North East in seven sports – swimming, netball, trampolining, badminton, cross country, squash and tennis.

Their college’s Sports Development Co-ordinator, Paul Carroll, said: “To have students qualify in 7 of 14 sports is outstanding. Taking 31 students to the Nationals makes QE one of the most well represented colleges at the finals and therefore one of the best colleges for sporting opportunities in the country.

“All of the students are a credit to the College, their families and themselves and their sporting ability is there for all to see. However, their commitment, behaviour, enthusiasm and sense of teamwork are equally as impressive. They are a pleasure to work with.”

The students staged several fundraising activities to fund their trip to the finals, including a cake sale, supermarket bag packing, a dodgeball competition and a sports lottery.