Adventurous teams of 13-16 year olds from Essex, with or without disabilities, to go head to head with 120 other UK schools in the nineteenth 2003 Kielder Challenge.

The Kielder Challenge is supported by the HSBC Education Trust and organised by the UK's leading disabled outdoor access charity, Fieldfare Trust. It is a unique eco-challenge competition which brings teams of able-bodied children and those with disabilities, to work together outdoors to solve a series of tough environmental challenges.

Uniquely, each team must include eight youngsters four of whom must have disabilities, including two wheelchair users - one of whom must be an electric wheelchair user.

The first stage of the Kielder Challenge involves teams taking part in a heat. Twenty four heats will take place at county parks and woods throughout England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales during April and May in 2003.

Each team must attend one of the day-long heats, where they will be faced with five brain-boggling challenges, such as the "birds nest" challenge which involves a team controlling a giant wooden maze, suspended from a tree, by a series of ropes and pulleys to return the "eggs" to the correct nests.

Rod Holmes of the Fieldfare Trust said: "The competition is an excellent opportunity for Essex schools and youth groups to join forces and enter a "super" team.

"Demand for places in the competition is always high so this year we've increased the number of heats and teams. There are 120 places available in the 2003 Kielder Challenge so we're advising teams to get their applications in early so they won't miss out."

Points scored in the heats will determine which teams make it to the national final, which involves a fabulous weekend in the magnificent setting of Kielder Forest in the heart of Northumberland, from where this popular competition gets its name. It is here that the top scoring teams from the heats will compete to claim the 2003 Kielder Challenge trophy.

The 2003 Kielder Challenge is free to enter, and applications are invited either by writing to Rod Holmes at the Fieldfare Trust at 67a The Wicker, Sheffield, S3 8HT or by telephoning (0114) 270 1668.