MORE than 130 North-East youngsters are looking forward to competing against the cream of Britain's young athletes, following the biggest youth sport event the region has seen.

The last of the finalists, who are bound for the BAA Millennium Youth Games later this summer, were decided on the closing day of the Chartwells Durham Sport Youth Games last Saturday.

Around 700 pupils from schools around the county competed in the under-15s section of the games, held at Durham University's Graham Sports centre, Maiden Castle.

And it was a good day for youngsters from the Chester-le-Street area.

A composite side of players from various schools in the town won the right to carry the county's torch in the girls' soccer competition.

Park View Community School will represent County Durham in the boys' hockey and the netball contests, while Hermitage School's girls' rugby team will also go forward.

Elemore Hall School, High Pittington, will compete in events for boys with learning difficulties. Darlington's Hummersknott School will represent the county at girls' hockey.

On Friday - the day for under-13s events - St Bede's RC School, Lanchester, won through in athletics; Park View Comprehensive, Chester-le-Street, in boys' basketball and Durham Johnston in the girls' basketball. A composite team of players from Durham City schools goes forward in the tennis event.

Games director Geoff Sheldon, of Durham County Council's PE and Sport Development Unit, said: "A party of 139 from County Durham, including trainers, will compete in the national finals at Southampton between August 17 and 20.

"It will be a bigger event than the Olympics in terms of numbers. There will be 7,000 competitors - and they will be accommodated in a festival village. It is something that won't happen again. We are determined to go down and enjoy it, and if anybody wins anything it will be a bonus. The kids will have a wonderful experience down there, but we are from the North-East and we will be competitive, don't worry."

Extra coaching is being laid on for the national finalists and a special reception is being planned to toast their success.