SPONSORS are sought for events aimed to bolster a successful girls' football club.

Lumley Ladies, formed with less than 20 members in May 2002, now attracts more than 100 female footballers to weekly training sessions at Chester-le-Street Riverside.

The club has age group teams from under-tens to the senior side, who are unbeaten in their maiden season in the Women's Northern Regional League division two.

Forthcoming fundraising events to help meet the cost of running the flourishing club include a race night, and a sponsored bike ride.

Sponsors are needed for each of the nine races on the card for the race night, to be staged at Lumley Snooker and Social Club in Front Street, Great Lumley, on the evening of Grand National Day, on Saturday, April 3.

The charge is £30 a race, with the sponsor entitled to add his or her name to the race title.

Sponsors are also needed to back the fun bike ride, over a 30-mile stretch of the Coast-to-Coast Cycle route, from Chester-le-Street to Consett and back, on May Day Bank Holiday, Monday, May 3.

Club officials are also seeking raffle prizes for a presentation night in June, and are about to begin fundraising for a proposed trip to Sweden after the club was invited to take part in the Gothia Cup in Gothenburg in July.

Secretary Dennis Price offered assurance to any potential benefactor. He said: "We get numerous inquiries from parents, businesses and individuals asking how they can help financially with the club.

"All monies raised from whatever source are used entirely for the benefit of our players and their teams, to enable them to play the sport they love. All funds are strictly monitored by both the fundraising and management committees, and all accounts, prepared by the treasurer, are available for inspection on request."

Anyone interested in backing any of the events should call Mr Price on (0191) 389 4494.