HUNDREDS of young runners from across the district will do battle next week. For the annual West Northumberland Schools Cross-Country Championships returns to Ovingham Middle School on Monday, with a start time of 10am.

The top finishers in the various age categories will go through to represent Tynedale in the Northumberland Schools event at Temple Park, South Shields, on January 17.

The next round of the Inter Counties event will take place in Cumbria on February 4, with the English Schools final taking place in Norwich on March 18.