TOWERING teenager Tom Forsyth is a giant on the rugby pitch but a disaster in his sports kit - because he just can't get clothes to fit.

The 6ft 5in 13-year-old, from Bishop Auckland, County Durham, is head and shoulders above his team mates, and shows no signs of stopping his current growth spurt - leaving his sports kit falling drastically short.

Jogging suit bottoms are at half mast and shirt sleeves flap somewhere between Tom's elbows and his wrists.

Tom's problem is that he does not have the girth to match his height - so finding clothes to fit is a tall order.

He plays rugby for Newton Aycliffe and on Friday will be on his school's swimming team at St John's RC Comprehensive, Bishop Auckland, which is travelling to the Crystal Palace pool to compete in a national swimming championship.

His despairing parents, Ian and Kathleen, have e-mailed sportswear companies to try to find him suitable gear.

Yesterday, The Northern Echo came to the rescue by contacting Tofts Old-Fashioned Football Shirt Company, in Gateshead, which agreed to make Tom a long-length shirt in the colours of his favourite team, Newcastle United.