A NORTH-EAST football club is about to enter the Guinness Book of Records for the most mascots to take to the field before a match.

Guinness' judges will be among the crowd at Darlington Football Club on Saturday, March 26, to see 122 mascots run out in the build-up to the game against Kidderminster Harriers.

The parade, with a mascot for each of the club's 122 years in existence, forms part of the celebrations of the opening of the stadium's North Stand.

Youngsters from across the borough, including the children of Quakers' players and staff, will take part.

The club has also announced a competition for schools attending the opening of the family stand.

They are being asked to produce a banner, about 10ft by 7ft, to be unveiled and paraded around the pitch on the day.

The winning banner will be determined by crowd response, and the prize for the winning school will be a theme park trip.

Other competitions taking place on the day include local schools getting the chance to have the stand named after them until the end of the season.

All schoolchildren will get free entry to the match, in a repeat of an initiative carried out on Boxing Day, when more than 7,000 fans attended.

Quakers' chairman Stewart Davies said: "Anticipation of the build-up to the opening of the North Stand is growing, and we are sure there will be something for everyone.

"Now, as well as some wonderful opportunities for schools and young people from across the Darlington area, we are also expecting to set a world record for the most fully-kitted mascots at one football match."

Gates will open at 11am, with activities starting at 11.30am and taking place until the 1pm kick-off.

Read more about the Quakers here.