HUNDREDS of youngsters will take part in an international tug of war tournament in Canterbury on Saturday.

The seventh GENSB Youth Tug-of-War International Tournament is to be staged at the University of Kent.

The tournament was conceived eight years ago as a model for increasing youth participation in the sport at international level and it has gone from strength to strength.

In its infancy 17 teams attended but last year 47 teams travelled to Duisberg in Germany to participate.

More than 400 youngsters from the ages of 12 to 19 from Britain, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, Sweden, Latvia, Italy, Lithuania and, for the first time, the Republic of Ireland, are due to attend.

A youth side based at Castle Community School in Deal will maintain their record of appearing every year since the event was founded.

Rahnie Smith, one of the organisers, said: "It is a wonderful experience for all youngsters who benefit not only from actively taking part in the sport but from the opportunity to mix with youngsters from different cultural backgrounds.”

The event starts at 10am on Saturday, with an official opening by the Sheriff of Canterbury, Cllr Richard Parkinson.