Two young swim stars from the region are looking forward to representing their country this summer at a mini-Olympic games.

Teenagers Scott Hathaway and Rebecca Golightly, who attend St Johns School in Bishop Auckland, have been selected for international duty at the Catholic Schools Sports Federation Games this July.

A team of eight boys and eight girls from around the county have been called up after their qualifying times impressed squad selectors and the pair will travel to the prestigious event being held in Malta when around 25 other countries will be represented.

The Olympic-affiliated event will be an all-new experience for Rebecca, 16, as she's never represented Great Britain before, but Scott, who is 16 at the end of this month and is ranked second in the country for breaststroke in his age group, will be hoping for more of the same having won four gold medals and two silvers at the competition last year.

The USA, Brazil, France, Belgium and Malta are among the many nations also competing in the event which lasts a week and will also see football, hockey, tennis, netball, basketball and other events taking place.

Alan Mangle, their swimming coach, said: "It's tremendous for themselves and something for the school to be very proud of.

"It's a very high profile event, the athletes are of a very high standard."

The Bishop pair need £500 to cover travel and accommodation costs so to help fund her daughter's trip Christine Golightly has completed a sponsored swim at Ackley Heads while Pressed Steel Products of Shildon, Scott's father's employers, have provided generous sponsorship.

* Five swimmers from Durham City ASC competed at the Middlesbrough Open Gala at the weekend, writes Malcolm Pratt.

There were nine swims and all produced personal best times with Chris Unsworth and Stephen Marshall gaining medals.

Results: Stephen Marshall (13 years): 100m Breaststroke 6th (Medal) 1.19.38; 200m IM 8th 2.32.41; 100m Fly 11th 1.11.72. Amy Buckle (13 years): 200m BS 23rd, 3.19.09. Chris Unsworth (12 years): 100m Fly 6th (Medal) 1.19.38; 200m Front Crawl 16th 2.30.11. Abbie Hauxwell (11 years): 100m Breaststroke 11th, 1.37.86; 100m Backstroke 20th, 1.28.37. Calum Gibson (11 years): 100m Backstroke 20th, 1.25.47.