MORE than a thousand young people aged nine to 16 will gather on Teesside this weekend for the biggest youth event in the area's sporting calendar.

The Teesside Sport Partnership Youth Games will see 1,100 able-bodied and disabled youngsters from Redcar and Cleveland, Middlesbrough, Hartlepool and Stockton compete in eight sports at two locations.

The games, which are in their fourth year, are part of a national sports festival involving more than 100,000 young people. The event will be held between 11am and 3pm at Eston Sports Academy on Saturday and at Acklam Sports Centre, Middlesbrough on Sunday.

Youth Games co-ordinator Di Covell said: "I think the games are really the biggest event of their kind on Teesside because it's a multi-sports event. The kids will get to play basketball, cricket, netball, rugby, swimming and tennis. Disabled youngsters, as well taking part in the swimming, will be offered the chance to play boccia, a kind of indoor bowls, and table cricket."

The majority of the funding for the games and the training - roughly £250,000 a year - comes from Sports Lottery, via Sport England. Chairman and football pundit Trevor Brooking said: "The Partnership Youth Games are now very well established and provide a really enjoyable and competitive outlet for our young sports men and women.

"The Teesside games will give the youngsters a real opportunity to showcase their skills and represent their local area."