FOOTBALL ace Kevin Phillips teamed up with a new strike partner to help launch a attraction at a North-East landmark yesterday.

The prolific forward has earned England international honours thanks to his successful double act with Irish striker Niall Quinn in Sunderland's front line.

But he switched from his usual stage at the Stadium of Light to the nearby National Glass Centre to join forces with another Sunderland star, Wearside-born writer, broadcaster and agony aunt Denise Robertson.

They were the first Sunderland celebrities to make their mark in glass at the start of what will become a permanent collection.

Appropriately, Super Kev had his foot moulded, while the author chose to have her hand permanently cast in glass.

Other prominent Wearside and North-East personalities will join them in the collection.

Glass centre chief executive Keith Jeffrey said: "We will look to add casts from local figures who have made an impact not just in the region, but nationally and internationally."

Yesterday's event also marked the start of Glassweek 2000, celebrating the permanent move of Sunderland University's glass and ceramics department into the glass centre.

The university has taken over facilities vacated by Sunderland Glassworks, which went into liquidation last year.

Visitors to the centre, on Liberty Way, next to the River Wear, can also view an exhibition of distinctive Swedish glassworks.

The £16m centre, which has welcomed 250,000 visitors in its first two-and-a-half years, is open seven days a week, from 10am to 5pm, with admission £5 for adults and £3 for children and concessions