High-achieving sportsmen and women from Stockton Sixth Form College are heading for the British Colleges finals in April.

More than 40 students from the college's boys' hockey team, girls' netball team, boys' seven-a-side rugby, badminton boys' singles, and girls' double and singles table tennis teams will compete with students from across the country in the under-19 finals.

The teams have had a successful year, sweeping the board at regional finals.

Julie Ward, head of sports studies, said: "Our winning teams are incredibly keen and totally dedicated."

It is the first time the college has won the regional British Colleges netball finals, and the first time it has qualified for the boys' rugby event.

Kim Naylor, 17, was selected to play hockey for the British Colleges national team, and Stephen Jones, 19, plays for the under-19 England rugby team.

Another student, Sophie Dewell, also celebrated success earlier this year when she became the Great Britain under-20s decathlon champion.