A COLLEGE is holding a concert to celebrate its new sports status and to stage a last fundraising push.

Roseberry Sports and Community College, in Pelton, near Chester-le-Street, was granted specialist sports status about a year ago.

To celebrate the achievement, it presents a concert in the main hall next Thursday, at 7pm, with youth music and drama group Youth Connection and Chester-le-Street Riverside Brass Band, which has just returned from a tour of Germany.

Youth Connection is made up of school pupils and ex-students who regularly tour abroad with their productions. The concert will boost a drive for more funds, an essential ingredient of the former school's bid for sports status.

Formerly Pelton Roseberry Comprehensive School, it had to raise £50,000 in order to qualify for the status and for the tens of thousands of pounds worth of Government funding that comes with it.

Tickets cost £6 (£4 concessions) and include cheese and wine. Contact the college on 0191-370 0300 or school governor Tom Moffat on 0191-388 0421.