NORTH-EAST fencers have claimed silver in a European championship.

Youngsters from Laszlo’s Fencing Club, based at the Regional Fencing Centre in Durham City, took part in the European Youth Sport Exchange, which also featured biathlon, table tennis and football.

Children attended from France, Italy, Romania and hosts Hungary.

Durham defeated the Italians and the French before losing out to the Hungarians, 40-29.

Team manager and coach Beth Davidson said: “Silver is a great result for our fencers who have been training hard this season.

“Being a team and competing in another country is a fantastic experience for young sports people.

“They have an opportunity to see other cultures and communicate in different languages, something they will have to get used to if they have the ambition to represent Great Britain.”

Laszlo’s Fencing Club made national headlines in 2010, when 12 members were stranded in China after an Icelandic ash cloud closed UK air space.