WHIPPET racing fever is set to return to the region when the premier event in the sport's calendar is staged next month.

Organisers of the All England Whippet Derby were so impressed by the turnout at last year's event in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, that they have decided to come back to the same venue.

This year's event will take place on fields at the Oak Leaf Sports Complex over the Easter weekend, April 18 to 21.

The racing is being sponsored by Great Aycliffe Town Council and John Upex Electricals, and the main finals, including the derby, will take place on Sunday, April 20.

Councillor Alan Courtney, who was instrumental in bringing the event to the North-East, said he was delighted Newton Aycliffe had been chosen to stage the derby for the second successive year.

He said: "Racers came in their hundreds from all over the country last year and they had such a good time that they wanted to come back again.

"We are expecting a third as many people again than we had last year, with more dogs entered from the UK, Ireland and possibly even the US.

"This event is putting Newton Aycliffe on the map and I am very pleased they wanted to come back."

Chris Cornish, editor and publisher of Whippet News, said the decision to return was an easy one after the success of last year's event.

She said: "We had such a great reception, all the whippet racers loved the hospitality and they were asking if we could go back.

"We had such an excellent turnout, the track was lined with people from all over the place, so we made the decision to come back to Newton Aycliffe."