YOUNG sports stars are to take to the international stage in a game they first played less than a year ago.

A team of curling players from the Coundon area, near Bishop Auckland, is lined up to compete in the New Age Curling Indoor World Championships, being held in Norfolk next month.

John Quickmire, 17, Daniel Bainbridge, 17, Shaun McManners, 18, and Sean Mulkerrin, 16, took up the sport last summer after taking part in a taster session held by Wear Valley District Council.

The fifth member of the squad is Richard Manuel, 32, the council's positive future officer, who was one of the organisers of the initial training session at Coundon Primary School.

He said: "We introduced curling to young people in the area hoping that some might take it up as an active hobby, so it is great that these lads have taken so well to it.

"They have to be dedicated and skilled to get to the world championships, and all four have been training with the Great Britain squad.

"I'm over the moon, they are really good lads.

"Interest has spread and we've got curling equipment in the school so the younger children are getting involved.

"It is great to show them new sports."