PEOPLE with sporty friends, families, or students, are being urged to nominate them for annual awards.

Middlesbrough Borough Council is searching for the town's best young sports personality, best coach and best team, for its Sports Personality of the Year Awards 2000.

There are two classes for young sports players - for those aged 13 years and younger and those aged between 14 and 17.

They must have represented their school, club or county, and should be nominated by a relative, teacher or coach.

Coaches must be nominated by a student, an organisation, or fellow coach, and teams must belong to a Middlesbrough school, club or organisation.

Nominations are also sought for a special Service to Sport award, before the deadline of Friday, October 27.

The reward for winners, who will be presented with certificates by the Mayor of Middlesbrough at a ceremony on December 7, will be bursaries to help pay for training and equipment.

Nomination forms are available from the Rainbow Leisure Centre, the Southlands Centre, Clairville Stadium and The Neptune.