Youngsters at Riverdale Primary School have just been declared netball champions of East Cleveland.

The school team, coached by teacher Sarah Metcalfe and governor Graeme Wright, represented Redcar and Cleveland at the Youth Trust Games 2002 on Teesside, having already won the Ings Farm summer fair tournament.

"This is the first time we have done this type of big competition so we were quite thrilled,'' said Riverdale head teacher Pam Shawcross.

"As part of the school ethos we are trying very hard to emphasize working as an individual and as a team. A lot of co-operation, dedication and commitment has been demonstrated by these children.''