PLANS to stage an international football festival next year will be launched at a ceilidh.

The fundraising event - nicknamed the Soccer Ball - is to take place at Consett Civic Centre on Friday, November 23.

The project is part of the Consett the World project, which aims to bring local people into closer contact with the outside world through sport and music.

Organiser Kathleen James said: "The ceilidh is a tremendous way to get people to know about Consett the World, and to start fundraising towards the tournament next year.

"We've got raffle prizes donated from Premier League clubs and players, we'll have a special guest there to launch it and we're pulling out all the stops to get a fantastic light show and indoor pyrotechnics and a load more pizzazz."

The entertainment, to start at 7.30pm, will include dancing to the Steam Radio band, a raffle and a dream team competition to guess Match of the Day 2 presenter Adrian Chiles' all-time greatest team.

Tickets, including pie and peas, cost £5 and are available from 01207-581772.

The festival will take place next September, with teams invitged from Liberia, Peru and Hungary.

As well as playing in the miniround robin tournament, the visiting teams will also meet local people, visit schools and spend time getting to know their hosts and their town.

Organiser Ged Naughton said: "Anyone who comes from Consett knows what a great spirit there is here, but Consett hasn't always had the best image outside the town.

"We're aiming to build strong links between Consett and the outside world by inviting people to come here and see what we're proud of, and a football tournament's a great way to do that, because it's an event which brings people together."