A girls' football league kicks off in Worthing next Wednesday.

It is the second year the league has been staged on the synthetic pitch at Worthing Leisure Centre in Shaftesbury Avenue.

Eight schools have entered a total of 15 sides: Broadwater Manor, Chesswood Middle, Thomas A'Becket Middle (three), Orchards Middle (two), The Vale (three), West Park Middle (three)

Durrington Middle and Downsbrook Middle.

Julian Stevens, Worthing Borough Council's leisure development manager, said: "We have had a brilliant response to this year's competition.

"We started this event last year and the format has been copied by other district councils in the area. We've doubled the number of schools taking part.

"The aim of the league is to give girls a chance to play competitive football.

Our ultimate goal is to see more girls joining one of the local clubs which run a girls' team."

Officials will use the league to pick a side to represent Worthing at the 2003 Youth Games in Horsham on June 8.