Young acro gymnasts from the region are to be the backbone of the Great Britain team for the forthcoming World Championships held in France in May.

The popularity of Deerness Gymnastics and Leisure Centre goes from strength to strength in this demanding discipline that combines power and grace with teamwork. With top coaches on hand it is now showing with 50% of the GB team all coming from the one club.

The World number one Men's Group of Barrie Hindson, 21, from Belmont, Scott Patterson, 20, from Meadowfield, Stuart McKenzie, 20, from Brandon and David Scott, 17, from West Rainton are going for Gold at this event. They have a silver medal from last years World Cup event held in Russia and would love to take the top spot this year.

The GB Men's Pair of Mark Fyson, 21, from Neville's Cross and Chris Jones, 17, from Nettlesworth are hoping to break into the medals in their first major competition together.

The GB Women's Pair of Lauren Belchamber, 20, from Bearpark and Leigh Simpson, 15, from South Shields are flying the flag for success in this event.

At the Junior level, current World Silver Medallists, Robert Tregoning, 17, and Hannah Browning, 15, both from Lanchester are hoping to go one better and take the gold this year.

Sarah Tregoning, 15, from Lanchester, Becky Gordon, 16, from Hartlepool and Hannah Goggin, 14, from Bishop Auckland are competing for GB in the Women's Group event. This is their first major competition and they are hoping to do well.

Finally, Luke Rooney, 15, from Ushaw Moor and Richard Hurst, 14, from Esh Winning are flying the GB flag in the Junior Men's Pair event. Both boys have come through the talent Identification programme set up at the centre. They were both selected from local schools after an initial talent ID screening three years ago.

Karl Wharton, National Coach at the centre said: "To have 15 gymnasts selected from one centre is an amazing feat and the dedication of the coaches and gymnasts at the centre should be applauded. This is a great centre and it shows that World Class Sport can be achieved. At the Deerness Centre this has been achieved through a unique partnership between the City of Durham, British Gymnastics, the English Institute of Sport, Deerness Valley School and Sport England."