HUNDREDS of dog racing fans from all over England and Scotland will descend on the region next weekend.

About 200 whippets will battle it out to win the Great Aycliffe Town Council Classic All England Whippet Derby title.

The annual event, at The Oakleaf Leisure, in Newton Aycliffe, has fast established itself as the biggest and most popular competition in the country.

Organiser Chris Cornish said: "It has become the event that everyone looks forward to and a lot of that is down to the warm welcome we receive from the staff at the sports complex and Great Aycliffe Town Council, in particular Councillor Alan Courtney.

"We have had a lot of phone calls from people wanting to come along.

"We have even had someone from America who is hoping to fly in especially. We also have a lot of local people coming along to watch.''

Local fans will be hoping Newton Aycliffe favourites Peggy Sue, owned by Sue Smithson, and Wombelle and Ballyso, owned by Colin and Alison Armstrong, will be in with a chance of the title.

Racing starts next Saturday, and will continue through to Bank Holiday Monday, May 29.