FEMALE footballers will not be out of practice during the usual festive lay-off this year thanks to a new indoor soccer venue.

The recently opened £2m Soccarena development, at Belmont, Durham, has answered the call from teams unable to play because of weather-bound pitches or seasonal ground closures over the Christmas and New Year period.

It is also tapping into the huge growth in the sport among female football followers and players, by staging the Soccarena Christmas Cup for senior women's and girls' teams during the festive period.

Senior sides, including most of the region's top teams, will go into action on Bank Holiday Monday, December 27, with the under-14s teams playing on Thursday, December 30.

Both competitions have won the backing of the Durham Football Association, which is keen to promote the women's game, and by competition sponsor Northumbrian Water.

Soccarena chairman Stewart Dawson said it was at this time of year when the indoor venue, capable of staging up to eight six-a-side matches really came into its own.

Sheila Jevons, women's and girls' development officer for Durham FA, said: "There has been a rapid rise in interest in women's and girls' football in the North-East and this is a great opportunity to bring the best teams together under one roof for a great one-off tournament."

Both tournaments will run from 10am with a series of round-robin matches, guaranteeing each team at least seven games, culminating in the final at about 3pm.

Clubs are invited to enter up to two teams for either event, at a charge of £25 a team. The deadline for entries is Friday, December 10.

Entries, on a first-come, first-served basis, should be made at Soccarena, Broomside Park, Belmont Industrial Estate, Durham DH1 1GG. For details, call 0191-370 6640.