MORE than 2,000 North-East schoolchildren will take part in their own version of the Commonwealth Games next month.

Youngsters from 45 primary schools from all over County Durham will arrive at East Durham and Houghall Community College, in Peterlee, on July 9, for a mini Commonwealth Games festival.

A spectacular opening ceremony will see the children parading specially-made banners representing Commonwealth countries, designed by the youngsters with the help of local artists.

After the festival, being funded by the Coalfields Regeneration Trust and sponsored by Nvisage, Orange, Drilcorp, Lloyds TSB and Stephenson's Bakery, the banners will go on display in the college theatre for a week.

Young people from eight schools will perform a Commonwealth dance, choreographed by the Tin Dance Company as part of the opening celebrations.

Then the competitors will take part in athletics, swimming, rugby, football, basketball, tennis, dance and boccia - a type of bowls that can be played by disabled children.

A variety of entertainment will also take place throughout the day, including live music, face painting, acrobatics and golf demonstrations.

The event is being organised with the help of students from six east Durham secondary schools as part of the Spirit of Friendship Festival, which complements the Commonwealth Games.

They became involved through the Youth Sport Trust's Top Link programme, designed to encourage links between schools and give teenagers the chance to de-velop leadership skills.

Andrew Readymarcher, a student at Seaham School of Technology, said: "We have had a great time planning the festival and learned a huge amount about organising such an event.

"It's exciting to be linked with the 2002 Commonwealth Games, which is one of the biggest sporting events to be held in the UK for decades."

Similar events are being run by 3,000 young sports leaders, involving 75,000 primary children across the country, in the lead up to the Manchester Games.