A TEENAGER with size 18 feet has succeeded in his search for cricket shoes to wear for the new season.

Sports-mad Alan Toward, 14, from Middleton-in-Teesdale, near Barnard Castle, has had to search far and wide to find footwear for his super-sized feet.

Earlier in the year, after months of searching, he found football boots to wear for his local team, but no sooner had he solved that problem than he was forced to start looking for trainers that would let him play his favourite sport, cricket.

With the help of Cricket First, a sports shop in Houghton-le-Spring, east Durham, Alan has found trainers that will fit him and has discovered a company in London that can fit the spikes needed to give him grip.

Cricket First has also sponsored the 6ft 4in Teesdale School student, and has provided him with whites and protection gear.

Now the pace bowler can look forward to a successful season playing with Middleton-in-Teesdale Under-15s.

"I could wear trainers, but they do not give me much grip in wet conditions when I am bowling," said Alan, who has also started playing for Barnard Castle Under-15s. Cricket is my favourite sport, so I am really happy to be able to get hold of some shoes."

His mother, Mary, said: "He is still growing, so by the time the football season starts again, he will probably need new boots, but we think the company that fitted the spikes on the cricket shoes might be able to help us again."