STUDENTS from two North-East colleges came together to compete in a sports tournament in memory of a popular teacher and coach who died of cancer last year.

The Hedley Cup was held in honour of 34-year-old Wayne Hedley, who spent time working at both Sunderland College and Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, in Darlington.

Students came together to organise the event, which will become an annual competition between the two colleges, with students competing in a range of sports.

The winning college will get to keep the Wayne Hedley trophy until the following year.

More than 100 students took part in the tournament, with Mr Hedley's mother and stepfather, June and Bobby Workman, in attendance as guests of honour.

Paul Carroll, sport development co-ordinator at QE, said: “The Hedley Cup is a really fitting way for us to remember and honour Wayne and the sporting legacy he left at both colleges.

"The students, staff and Wayne’s family all enjoyed a great day of sport that was played in the right spirit.”

The students competed in netball, basketball, boys’ football, girls’ football and mixed tag rugby.

The results were two wins each – wins for QE in netball and basketball and wins for Sunderland College in both football matches – and a draw in the rugby fixture. This means that each college will keep the trophy for six months before battling it out again next year.

Mrs Workman presented the trophy to the colleges’ team captains – Sam Lorimer from QE and Amber McLoughlin from Sunderland College.

Graham Mytton, head of sport at Sunderland College, added: “It was fantastic to see so many young people competing for their college and trying to win the Hedley Cup.

"Wayne loved to play, coach and watch sport and his ability to enthuse young people and get them playing was the inspiration for the event.

"I am really looking forward to an even bigger Hedley Cup in 2016."