A GROUP of Stockton youngsters will represent the North in a national acrobatics championship after winning the regional title in South Shields last weekend.

Ailsa Pitt and Nikki Wilson, who are both 17, and ten-year-old Lyndsey Irish took first place in the trio competition, in which teams of three perform balances, tempo throws and moves to musical accompaniment.

Each balance must be held for three seconds and the tempo moves must be free-flowing and demonstrate height.

The three were members of a 14-strong team from the Hemlington Gymnastics Club, based at Stockton sports centre, which took part in the national development plan regional grades competition at the Temple Park leisure centre.

Aged from eight years upwards, all the youngsters are from the Stockton area.

Ailsa, Nikki and Lyndsey will now go on to represent the North of England region at the national sports acrobactics competition in Stoke on March 22.

Club coach Charlotte Wilkinson said: "All the youngsters are really enthusiastic and they have worked really hard for this competition.

"It's a great honour for Ailsa, Nikki and Lyndsey to represent the region and I'm sure that they will do themselves proud in Stoke."