Surfing is not the only sporting interest for Internet users as more and more people keep up with their favourite sport online.

And there is nothing those homesick ex-pats like more than to keep up with their former home town football team from all corners of the globe.

So at this website we are developing new websites for fans of local sports.

Already kicked-off in the past couple of weeks are sites dedicated to following Darlington and Hartlepool Football Clubs.

At www.thisisthenortheast.co.uk/ sport/football/darlington, fans of the Quakers can get the latest news, give their views, read match reports and take part in a vote on the controversial stadium as well as see pictures of the building work as it progresses.

And fans of arch rivals Pool are not left out with a site dedicated to them at www.thisisthenortheast.co.uk/sport/football/hartlepool.

As well as match reports, pictures and a chance to air views, supporters of Hartlepool FC can also vote for the player of the season so far.

For those who follow the action on the rink rather than the pitch, our new Jesters website could be the website to bookmark.

At www.thisisthenortheast.co.uk/sport/jesters, fans of ice hockey can send in messages, read star player Louis Bedard's column and catch up with the latest news and match reports.

And the region's competitors at the Paralympic Games in Sydney have also got their place online.

Housed within a specially-designed website to allow for access from a variety of software, readers can follow the action from the games atwww.thisisthenortheast.co.uk/leisure/access/paralympics.

These new sites join our stable of other sporting sites such as the latest Racing North at www.racing-north.co.uk, Durham County Cricket Club at www.thisisthenortheast.co.uk/sport/cricket and Local Heroes at www.thisisthenortheast.co.uk/sport/heroes.html.

And the story doesn't stop there. Readers often request new sports for coverage and many have set up their own sites under our free website deal for clubs and organisations.

Among those who have already taken the plunge are Darlington Ladies FC, Windsurfing Women and Consett RFC.

More details are available at www.communigate.co.uk/ne.

Suggestions about improvements to our sports coverage are always welcome by e-mail