TEENAGERS from across County Durham took part in hotly-contested sporting challenge against Hungarian visitors.

The youth sports and culture exchange, organised by Durham County Council’s International Relations Office, saw 41 pupils aged between 13 and 15, travel from Jasz-Nagykun-Szolnok, in Hungary which is twinned with County Durham.

A mixture of teambuilding challenges took place at Moor House Activity Centre, near Houghton le Spring, followed by a sports competition at Consett Academy.

Pupils from 13 schools across the county took part in football, netball, tennis and swimming competitions.

Although the Hungarian team emerged as overall winners, Durham picked up gold medals in the swimming and tennis.

Lucy Turzynski, the council’s assistant international officer, said: “The youth sports and culture exchange has been taking place for a number of years and 2017 saw another successful event.

“Although Durham pupils were narrowly beaten, the experience taught them the true values of sportsmanship and competition and many new friendships were developed which will hopefully continue into the future.”

The aim of the project is to introduce young people across the county to peers from another part of Europe.