THE kits have arrived, and now than 40 pupils at Hexham's Queen Elizabeth High School are heading Down Under.

A total of 44 students aged between 16 and 17, and six members of staff, leave for their sports tour to Australia on Sunday, and they will spend 22 days overseas while playing football, rugby and netball.

Among the places they will visit are Sydney, Brisbane and Queensland.

To complement a significant fund-raising drive by pupils, a number of local businesses pledged financial support to help make the trip possible.

Chartered surveyors Crawford Higgins Associates are the main sponsors, with Andrew Coulson, Audi, Tim Doody, MKM Building Supplies and Two Plus Two primary sponsors.

Also pledging support has been Fawdington Hexham, Hexham MOT Centre, Robson and Sons, Allendale Inn and the Racquet Man, who won a sponsorship slot at the school's popular sportsman's dinner event.

PE teacher Graeme Armstrong has coordinated the tour, and said: "The fund-raising efforts have been immense, but there has been excellent support from the local community which will enhance the trip for the children.

"There's been a lot of planning involved, but we're all really excited about going now."