Darlington FC is among several North-East clubs selected to host the biggest football tournament in the country since Euro 96.

The Euro 2001 Under-16 Football Championship kicks off a week on Sunday.

Tickets for the championship are on sale to the public, priced £3 for adults and £1 children (under-16s). Accompanied children will be able to attend free of charge.

Darlington is hosting the Romania v Germany game, on Tuesday, April 24, and Belgium v Romania, on Thursday, April 26. The club will also host a quarter-final match on Sunday, April 29.

Kevin Stonehouse, Darlington's football in the community officer, said: "It's great to have international football at Feethams, and I'd encourage all young fans to come along and see some of the best young players in Europe.

"It's a real honour for us to be hosting such established footballing nations as Germany, Romania and Belgium."

Mr Stonehouse has arranged an Easter soccer school for children aged six to 14 at Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, from Monday to Thursday.

Every child on the course will get a free ticket to a Euro 2001 match and an Easter egg. Anyone interested in attending should ring (01325) 381972.

Fans wanting to obtain tickets for the matches should call the Darlington FC ticket office on (01325) 242020.

Durham City AFC is hosting four matches in Group A and the third place play-off.

The games are Romania v Spain, and Germany v Belgium, on April 22, Spain v Belgium, on April 24, and Spain v Germany, on April 26.

The third place play-off is at Durham on May 6. Tickets for their matches can be obtained on 0191-386 9616.

Middlesbrough and Newcastle host the two semi-finals on May 3.

Sunderland hosts a quarter-final match on April 29, before staging the final on May 6.

Children from Rise Carr School in Darlington helped mascots Quaker Kid and Mr Q launch the championships at Feethams this week.