A PUPIL'S stylish designs are to be turned into a football strip for a fledgling team.

Chester-le-Street beat officer PC Steve Shotton set pupils at the town's Newker Primary School the challenge of designing a strip and badge for a new football team. The side will be made up of pupils from the school and children who use the facilities at Bullion Hall community centre.

A design by Year Five pupil Beth Pattison was chosen and it is hoped to turn her light green football strip and badge, which combines the school's logo with footballs, into 11 strips.

As a prize, Beth was given two tickets for the Bolton v Sunderland game last Saturday, the first game Sunderland played under new manager Mick McCarthy.

Teacher Simon McBeth said: "Depending on cost, they're going to try and get that strip made up.

PC Shotton said: "The whole idea is to bring the youngsters together to encourage community spirit and build bridges with the young people, so that I become a familiar, approachable face.