A CHAMPIONSHIP winning roller hockey team setting up in Accrington is on the lookout for players and sponsorship.

West Coast Skater Hockey Club, thought to be the first of its kind in East Lancashire, was set up in Blackpool in 1999, and has already won two British Championships - 2000 and 2002 - and a European Championship two years ago.

The team plays in a Yorkshire league, travelling to Sheffield for matches, and has won a place in an international tournament in Essen, Germany, in July.

One of 300 teams in this country, the players currently train at various places in East Lancashire including Blackburn's YMCA and Darwen Leisure Centre.

But matches now take place in the new sports complex at Moorhead High School, Cromwell Avenue, Accrington, with training at the New Era Complex, Paradise Street, Accrington.

Special development sessions will be run from 6.30pm to 7.30pm starting next Monday. Once players are ready for team action, they will train on Thursday nights from 7pm to 10pm, also at the New Era.

The team already has players travelling from Manchester and Blackpool to play in Accrington.

Team development officer Wayne Farrington said: "It's definitely on the increase. It's really big in Europe - the only place it's not so big at the moment is the UK."

This week the club was awarded £1,500 by the Neighbourhood Renewal Community Chest Fund to pay for safety equipment.

"I'm trying to provide everything. At the moment I'm short of in-line skates," said Wayne.

The squad also needs to find around £3,000 for another competition in Lugano, Switzerland, in August to avoid being banned from playing in Europe.

The team is planning an exhibition match at Moorhead High, on a date yet to be arranged.

Anyone who can help with sponsorship or those aged from six to 19 interested in playing should contact team coach Graham Lomax on 07773 332613.