THE search is on to find the finest school cricket team in the region.

A total of 47 schools have entered The Northern Echo/Local Heroes Under-15s cup competition.

The prize for the winning school will be £300 in sporting equipment, with £200 to the runner-up.

Both semi-finals and the final will take place on July 11, as part of a festival of schools cricket hosted by Durham County Cricket Club at its Riverside ground.

The chance to play on one of the finest first-class grounds in the country has attracted the interest of schools from across County Durham, Cleveland, North Yorkshire and Tyne and Wear.

The competition has been organised on a knock-out basis. Games will be 20-overs a side, with at least five bowlers being used.

The preliminary round matches have to be completed by May 18, with the first round matches completed by May 25.

Packs containing details of the draw, competition rules and other promotional ,material have been sent out to the schools.

Weekly updates on the progress of the competition, with results and details of star performances will be included in Local Heroes every Friday.

The draw is:

Preliminary round (matches to be played by May 18) - Boldon v John Spence; Dame Allan's v Durham School; Sunnydale v Sunderland High; Durham Johnston v Hetton; Castle View v Framwellgate; Houghton Kepier v Fyndoune; Monkwearmouth v St John's RC; English Martyrs v Easington; Laurence Jackson v Acklam Grange; Easingwold v Bishop's Garth; Carmel v Haughton; Ripon Grammar v Millthorpe; Bydales v Pindar; King's Manor v Yarm; Barnard Castle v Nunthorpe.

First round (matches to be played by May 25) - Boldon/John Spence v Stanley; St Aidan's RC v Dame Allan's/Durham School; Sunnydale/Sunderland High v Farringdon; Durham Johnston/Hetton v Ryton; Castle View/Framwellgate v Southmoor; Roseberry v Houghton Kepier/Fyndoune; Wolsingham v Monkwearmouth/St John's RC; English Martyr's/Easington v Blackfyne; Northfield v Granby High; Macmillan College v Laurence Jackson/Acklam; Easingwold/Bishop's Garth v Teesdale; Carmel/Haughton v Hall Garth; Ripon Grammar/Millthorpe v Eastbourne; Ian Ramsey v Bydales/Pindar; Stokesley v King's Manor/Yarm; Barnard Castle/Nunthorpe v Hurworth.