HUNDREDS of young athletes were in action yesterday on the second day of the region's biggest ever youth games.

After the under-13 year olds competed on Thursday, it was the turn of the under-15s yesterday as youngsters throughout the region competed in 11 different disciplines in the Durham Sport Youth Games.

St Bede Roman Catholic School, Lanchester, will carry the county's hopes in athletics, while Park View Comprehensive, Chester-le-Street, will compete in the boys' basketball with Durham Johnston challenging in the girls' basketball. A composite team of players from Durham City schools goes forward in the tennis competition.

Events included athletics championships, a basketball tournament, table tennis, football, rugby, and tennis.

The region's games have already proven a big success and attracted large crowds at Durham University's Graham Sports Centre at Maiden Castle.

About 3,500 youngsters are taking part in the event which continues today.

The winners go forward to the BAA Millennium Youth Games, which will be held over four days in Southampton in August.

One team of young Darlington basketball players is already celebrating after winning through. Youngsters from Red Hall Primary School represented the town in the basketball under-11s mixed finals.

The boys and girls beat off stiff competition to triumph over a team from Sedgefield in the final.

The event has been organised by a consortium including Durham County Council, Durham University and Sport England. School dinners provider Chartwells is the title sponsor and the County Durham Development Company is the event sponsor.

The day was opened by Brian Marwood, the ex-England and Arsenal footballer who comes from Seaham.

More of the finalists will be decided today when the under-15s compete.

l A full results round-up will be published in Friday's edition of Local Heroes, free with The Northern Echo.