TALENTED young sports stars in the Tees Valley are to be guided to success with the launch of a new sports academy.

The Tees Active Sports Academy was launched on Tuesday by Paralympic gold medalist Tanni Grey-Thompson, offering some of the brightest sports hopefuls better facilities, additional funding, training and medical advice.

The initial intake will see 27 boys and girls being accepted into the school, which will take in sports centres around Stockton borough, including Splash, Thornaby Pavilion, Thornaby Pool, Billingham Forum, Stockton Sports Centre and Castlegate Quay Watersports Centre.

All youngsters taken into the academy must either live in Stockton borough or train at one of the Active Life Centres listed.

Steve Chaytor, managing director of Tees Active Ltd, said: "The launch of this sports academy will help aspiring and talented performers across all sports and it will help them to develop in their home area."

Among the youngsters accepted into the academy are 200m butterfly European junior championship bronze medalist Jessica Dickons and Cloe Dawson, a member of the Great Britain junior figure skating squad.

They are joined by 13-year-old Steve Hewitson, a member of England's U14 ice hockey team, and 12-year-old wrestling star Marcus Sudron, who has again been selected by the Great Britain U14s squad to compete in a prestigious international tournament in Latvia.

Any businesses interested in sponsoring the academy are asked to contact Allan McDermott on (01642) 528772.