A ROLLER derby team will starting the New Year with a challenge as they ditch the booze for Dry January.

Eighteen members of the Newcastle Roller Girls have signed up to take part in the campaign which urges people to give up drinking alcohol for 31 days.

Alcohol Concern’s Dry January, regionally partnered by Balance, aims to get people thinking and talking about their relationship with alcohol by abstaining for a month.

It’s hoped the benefits will encourage people to adopt healthier lifestyles during the rest of the year.

Newcastle Roller Girls, ranked 28th in Europe, are hoping to reap the rewards of a range of benefits such as weight loss, sleeping better and saving money.

Antonia Lister, team captain, said: “As a team we do like to socialise after games and that would likely involve a few drinks at a local pub but we will just have to celebrate our wins with soft drinks or cups of tea throughout January.”

Nationally, more than 17,300 people signed up to take part during January 2014 – with around one in four coming from the North East.

Colin Shevills, director of Balance, said: ““Drinking more than the recommended limits on a daily or almost daily basis can have some serious long term implications for our health, including liver disease, various cancers, heart disease and stroke.

To sign up visit dryjanuary.org.uk

-