A PILOT scheme that brings youngsters from deprived areas to meet their North-East sporting heroes is to expand.

The project, organised through the Prince's Trust and rugby sponsors Zurich insurance company, sees Newcastle Falcons Rugby Union Football Club working with County Durham youngsters from the Trust's XL sports clubs.

It aims to keep teenagers on the right side of the tracks. Falcons' players have been working with players aged 14 and over from Durham Johnston School and Greencroft School, in Annfield Plain, near Stanley.

Players have visited the schools and hosted tours of their Kingston Park stadium, where youngsters can meet their heroes, watch training and take part in tag rugby matches.

The high point for the youngsters will be a trip to the stadium to see the Falcons play Leicester, at Kingston Park on March 16.

The scheme has proved such as success that the Prince's Trust and Zurich plan to introduce the programme to cover all of the North-East.

David Beavis, regional director of the trust, said: "This new and combined effort will help us towards extending the network throughout Northumberland, Tyne and Wear and Tees Valley during the next two years.

"Youngsters gain practical experience from XL by taking responsibility for their own learning, and they are achieving results."

Mark Foster, Newcastle Falcons community programme manager, said: "Rugby is all about working as a team and enjoying sport in a safe, controlled environment.

"This is the message that the Falcons community team and the players really want to get across. This pilot project gives us an ideal opportunity to do so."