TRADERS in Chester-le-Street have rallied to the cause as the town gears up to take the international sporting stage.

With the international one-day cricket matches over the weekend of July 15-16, featuring England, West Indies and Zim-babwe at Durham's Riverside ground in Chester-le-Street, the county cricket club is staging a fundraising Spot the Ball contest, with a difference.

As there are no player beneficiaries this summer, Durham CCC has awarded itself a 'benefit year' to help pay off outstanding money towards the cost of the £5m ground development.

Among the fundraising ideas is the Spot the Ball competition, involving businesses in Front Street, the Market Place and St Cuthbert's Walk, Chester-le-Street. A total of 58 premises are taking part, each displaying a numbered coloured ball in their window, having paid a £20 fee.

Members of the public are challenged to tour the town centre to match up the number of ball and colour against each of the businesses listed on the entry form.

Prizes are worth £100, £50 and £25 for the best three entries, with the most correct answers.

Entry forms are carried in this week's edition of the Advertiser, and the competition runs from Saturday. Completed forms must be returned by Saturday, July 15, the day of the England v West Indies game, to competition org-aniser, John Shaw, at 23 Long-dean Park, Chester-le-Street, DH3 4DF, or left at the club shop at the Riverside ground.

The winners' names will be published in the Advertiser the following week.

England's game against the West Indies is a Riverside record 15,000-sell-out, but tickets remain for the Zimbabwe v West Indies match on Sunday, July 16