A FORMER international football referee yesterday unveiled sports equipment that will enable disabled people in his home town to enjoy a new hobby.

George Courtney, whose career saw him take charge of matches in the 1986 and 1990 World Cup finals, joined members of Spennymoor and District Mobility Club to celebrate the launch of its carpet bowls facilities.

The club, which meets every other Friday at Spennymoor Leisure Centre, purchased the £800 mat and bowls with part of the funding it received from the National Lottery Awards for All scheme and the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund's Community Chest.

The club's meetings will now be an extra two hours, from 1pm to 4pm, and it may start meeting on another day to give members the opportunity to play carpet bowls.

It also plans to invite other groups to use the equipment and hopes eventually to start competing in a local carpet bowls league.

Chairman Ray O'Neill said: "We want to invite other groups with little access to sports, such as the elderly, to join us for games.

"I don't see any reason why we cannot, one day, compete against able-bodied people. This is another activity the club, which started last summer, can offer to its members who didn't used to have these opportunities."

Mr Courtney said: "I'm Spennymoor through and through and know many of the members very well. I fully support what the club does, it has broadened the horizons of many people. The carpet bowls equipment opens up the world of sport to them, something many felt excluded from, and offers a new hobby and social activity."