STUDENTS are hoping a watersports centre of excellence on Wearside will help them compete on a world stage.

The new centre, at Sunderland Marina, will give students from the city's university access to top facilities and equipment for sports such as sailing, canoeing and surfing.

Ivan Whitfield, the university's director of sport, said: "This exciting initiative is a big step forward and establishes us on the regional sporting map.

"We hope that students, keen on developing watersports skills, will choose Sunderland as the place to develop their education.

"We are keen to develop all levels of watersports and this partnership with the marina and our student union will secure the long term future of watersports for our students and also assist the development of sport for members of the local community."

The centre, a joint project with Sunderland Students' Union and Sunderland Marina, is part of the university's long-term strategy to raise sports performance.

Pat Murray, director of Sunderland Marina, said: "The watersports centre gives us the chance to work with talented students, who will benefit from the best facilities and receive top level coaching."

The university also plans to create centres of excellence in football, swimming and basketball.