FORGET the Ashes. Despite England playing Australia at the moment, there's only one cricketing occasion on the minds of secondary school children across the North-East.

That's the festival of schools cricket being played at Durham County's Riverside on Wednesday.

The festival will feature the semi-finals and final of The Northern Echo/Local Heroes Under-15s Schools Cricket Cup.

After setting out in April with 47 schools from County Durham, Cleveland, North Yorkshire and Tyne and Wear, glorious weather and excellent co-operation from the schools have ensured we are now left with just four teams.

Starting proceedings will be the first semi-final between Boldon School, from South Tyneside, and Ian Ramsey C of E School, from Stockton. This match will be played at Chester-le-Street Cricket Club, Ropery Lane.

Boldon will be hoping history repeats itself. The school was the winner of The Northern Echo schools cup when it was last held in 1995.

They earned their semi-final place beating Durham School, one of the favourites for the competition, by seven runs on Wednesday.

Ian Ramsey beat Yarm School in the quarter-final.

The second semi-final takes place at the Riverside between Easingwold School and Castle View School, from Sunderland.

Easingwold eased their way into the semi-final by beating Haughton School, from Darlington, by 34 runs. Castle View earned their place by beating Fyndoune, from Sacriston by six wickets.

Their progress in the competition has been remarkable. This is the first summer for many years that Castle View has played competitive cricket.

The final, also of 20 overs-a-side, will be played after lunch at the Riverside.

The winning school will receive a cheque for £300 to buy sporting equipment. The runner-up will receive a cheque for £200. The prize money has been donated by Northern Rock.