HUNDREDS of junior players have taken part in a football festival.

Darlington Mount Pleasant Rangers staged its fourth tournament at the weekend on playing fields at the town's Branksome School.

A growing number of teams from across the North-East are making the two-day Mount Pleasant event a fixture in the calendar. There was also an open age women's event for the first time.

Billingham won the under-nine boys category, with Brinkburn, from Darlington, runners-up, and Redcar Town under-ten winners ahead of Coulby Newham.

The under-11 event was won by Stockton West End, beating Trimdon in the final, and 21st All Stars took the honours after a Darlington derby in the under-12 final, against Spraire Lads.

North Ormesby were under-13 champions, seeing off 21st Century All Stars B in the final, while there was a home win in the under-14 category, as Mount Pleasant Rangers beat Darlington Albion.

The women's champions were Darlington RA, who beat Horden CW in the final.

A bigger and better tournament is planned next year, with more girls categories to be added to the roster reflecting the huge leap in interest among young female footballers.