A GROWING love of football among girls was reflected in a day-long county schools' tournament yesterday.

More than 800 girls from schools across County Dur-ham took part in the fifth annual event staged by the county council's PE and Sport Advisory Unit.

Up to ten matches were staged at any one time on seven-a-side pitches marked out at Durham University's Maiden Castle sports centre.

Teams from 58 primary schools took part in matches, which were played on a round-robin basis during the morning, with 23 secondary schools involved yesterday afternoon.

Referees were supplied by Durham Football Association and East Durham and Houghall Community College.

Alan Duff, county council PE advisor, said the improvement in standards was noticeable year after year.

"This was our biggest entry yet and the girls just seem to get better and better.

"Female football is the fast-est growing sport and it now rivals netball for popularity among girls in schools.

"It was good to watch just how enthusiastic they were and how competitive the games were, although all the games were played in a good spirit and there wasn't a yellow or red card to be seen all day."

Ouston, Shotton Hall from Peterlee, St Patrick's from Consett, and Cockton Hill, from Bishop Auckland, all emerged as qualifiers in the primary level tournament.

They will return to Maiden Castle for the finals in May.

Easington Community School took the honours in the secondary level tournament, ahead of runners-up Dene Community School, from Peterlee, with Durham Johnston third, Teesdale School, fourth and Moorside Community College, from Consett, fifth.