YOUNGSTERS from across the Wear Valley turned out to pay a sporting tribute to a policeman who died of cancer.
More than 120 primary school pupils took part in the PC Michael Wright memorial cricket match at Willington Cricket Club last week.
PC Wright, of Stanhope, joined the police force in 1977. He was based at Crook and covered predominantly the Dale until he died in 1999.
The father-of-four was a sporting enthusiast - batting for Crook Cricket Club, playing for Crook Town Football Club and as a referee at local football fixtures.
Since his death at the age of 43, colleagues from Bishop Auckland and Crook police stations had competed for the PC Michael Wright Memorial Trophy each year.
But this year, the police teamed up with Willington's cricket development officer Darren Brown who extended the event to local youngsters and ten schools took part in the tournament.
PC Wright's wife, Diane, and mother, Ellen, said it was a fitting tribute and the kind of scheme he would have been part of when he was alive.
They helped Community Inspector George Ledger present trophies to the winning team, from Stanley Crook Primary School, runners-up Our Lady and St Thomas RC Primary, and semi-finalists Peases West and Willington CE Primary Schools.
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