A WOMEN'S cricket festival opened in Durham yesterday, attracting teams from across the country.

Matches between six teams from Durham, Oxfordshire, Sussex, Middlesex, Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire will be taking place all week in the city, as the teams compete for the Durham City Cup.

The finals will be held on Friday, at the Racecourse cricket ground, in Durham.

On Wednesday, girls aged eight and over can join members of the competing teams, to take part in taster sessions at Durham City Cricket Club, in Green Lane, from 10am to 2pm. Those wanting to take part need not have any experience in the sport and should just turn up.

Festival organiser, Deborah Holmes, from Durham City Council leisure services, said: "This festival is different, because there is an awful lot of women's cricket around at the moment, but it tends to be for premier clubs. Teams come from all over the country for this and it's like a week's holiday for them."

The festival is in its third year and the previous year's competitions have both been won by Yorkshire.

Two matches a day will be taking place this week, at either the Racecourse ground or Maiden Castle, from 11am. Spectators are welcome.