DOZENS of teenagers from Europe arrive in County Durham this weekend to take part in a junior European Championship football tournament.

The 60 youngsters from Russia, Hungary, Germany and France will get a taste of life in the North-East.

Last year, the first tournament was held in France and the Derwentside team, representing England, made it to the final, but were beaten by the Russians.

Derwentside police have organised the £20,000 event, in Consett, after receiving cash from Derwentside District Council and Durham County Council. The police are still appealing for businesses to help with sponsorship.

The youngsters, including Under-16 teams from Consett, Sandhole, Crookhall and Houghton-le-Spring, will play at Consett's Belle Vue Leisure Centre next Tuesday, and Thursday, July 19.

During their remaining time in the region the visiting teams will get the chance to go to Durham City, the MetroCentre at Gateshead, and Sunderland AFC's Stadium of Light.

The teams will stay at Consett's YMCA and no special arrangements have been made to accommodate the varying tastes of the visitors - they will all sample cod and chips.

The winners will receive the Alex Forsyth trophy. Mr Forsyth, a long-standing Consett youth worker, died last year, and last year's tournament was his brainchild.

Detective Constable Shaun Bailey has helped organise the event.

He said: "The tournament will be very much a tribute to Alex. We believe it will be a great experience for all the youngsters involved."

The foreign teams will all come from areas twinned with County Durham.