ACTION stations - the search is on for the North-West sports men and women who will shine in the next Millennium.

Budding David Beckhams and Sally Gunnells from the region are being sought in a contest to find "Tomorrow's People".

British Gas is inviting people to nominate a friend or relative, who must be at least 18, for the chance to win a share of £10,000 in the national contest.

The energy company wants to find men and women who show exceptional promise in sport, as well as in other categories, such as the arts, business and the media.

North West area manager of British Gas, Julian Anderton, said: "Now that British Gas is expanding into new areas for the home - such as electricity, home security and insurance - our concentration on expertise is increasingly important.

"Through this competition we want to encourage people in other areas of life to develop their skills too and become the stars of the new Millennium."

Expert judges will choose the winning entrants by looking at their achievements, dedication, experience and vision for the future.

The overall winner will receive £5,000 and the best entry in each category wins £500.

People who nominate the eight winners will also receive a year's free electricity up to the value of £250.

To nominate an entrant - and you can nominate yourself - write the name and address of both you and the person you are nominating, together with your daytime phone number and signature, and describe in no more than 250 words why he or she is one of Tomorrow's People. Entries should be sent to: "Tomorrow's People, 22 Endell Street, London WC2H 9AD, to arrive no later than July 13, 1999.

Copies of the terms and conditions can be obtained from the same address.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.