A NORTH-EAST roller skating club almost swept the board at the recent national championships.

The Durham and District Roller Skating Club, which attracts skaters from across the region, claimed five gold medals at the tournament.

The club, in Shildon, County Durham, sent a strong team to the British Championships for Artistic Roller Skating at Stoke Mandeville Olympic Stadium.

Karen Davison, 23, from Middlebrough took the senior ladies championship.

Redcar's Emma Gaffney, also 23, won the title of senior ladies combined title, while her 18-year-old sister Lorna Gaffney claimed the new junior ladies figure skating crown.

Katie Lodge, 17, from Newton Aycliffe won the junior ladies free skating title.

And 13-year-old Elise Hadgraft, who travels to County Durham every week from her home in Stockport, near Manchester, took the title of cadet ladies free skating champion.

Karen, Katie and Elise were also selected to represent Great Britain at the European Roller Skating Championships, in Italy and Portugal in September.

The club skates at Sunnydale Leisure Centre and is coached by Janet Lodge and Paul McIlhonne, who also looks after the Great Britain squad.

Any new members can attend the open sessions at Shildon Leisure Centre on Saturday mornings at 9.30am.

The club is seeking sponsorship and is hoping its recent achievements will bring the minority sport to the attention of potential backers

Any enquiries can go through the club coach, Janet Lodge, on (01325) 310399.