MORE than 1,000 people will turn out tonight for the biggest grassroots sports event of the year in the North- East.

The Local Heroes Awards for 2010, which were postponed due to the freezing weather last month, will be presented in a marquee at Hardwick Hall Hotel, near Sedgefield, from 6.30pm.

Guests of honour will include Middlesbrough manager Tony Mowbray and athletics legend Brendan Foster as the stars of professional sport help to honour the stars of grass roots sport.

With 2010 marking the 30th anniversary of the Great North Run, Foster will be joined by the inaugural winner of the great race, Mike McLeod.

Other stars turning out for the event include Leeds United manager Simon Grayson and Darlington Football Club manager Mark Cooper.

Durham County Cricket Club’s head coach, Geoff Cook, will also be attending.

The Football Association’s head of communications, Adrian Bevington, who hails from Middlesbrough, will be there, along with football heroes from yesteryear, including Gary Pallister, Craig Hignett, Alan Foggon, and Brian Atkinson.

Newcastle Eagles supremo Paul Blake will be coming, along with some of the stars of the Newcastle Vipers ice hockey team.

The event, organised by The Northern Echo and compered by the paper’s editor, Peter Barron, raises vital funds for Future Sport, a charity which gives out thousands of pounds every year to help youngsters find their way in sport.

Mr Barron said: “This is our big night of the year and the standard of finalists is as high as ever.

“The weather got in the way, but it’s a case of better late than never and there will be plenty of heart-warming stories to celebrate.

“As always, the stars of professional sport have done us proud and it is great to have real local heroes like Brendan Foster and Tony Mowbray with us for the occasion.”

All the category winners will receive £250 in prize money as well as their Local Heroes 2010 trophies. The overall Local Hero of 2010 will win £500.