TWO of Britain's greatest-ever athletes are coming to town to search for the next generation of sprint stars.Linford Christie and Darren Campbell are in Great Yarmouth next Friday hoping to discover the raw talent to follow in their footsteps.

TWO of Britain's greatest-ever athletes are coming to town to search for the next generation of sprint stars.

Linford Christie and Darren Campbell are in Great Yarmouth next Friday hoping to discover the raw talent to follow in their footsteps.

The Olympic gold medallists started challenging children on inner city estates to race against them and since then have been covering the length and breadth of the country with their Street Athletics competition.

Christie and Campbell will be casting their eyes over the runners lining up for a series of 60m sprints on Yarmouth seafront.

That will be followed by a coaching day later next month attended by Katharine Merry, 400m bronze medallist at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Borough council sports development officer John Pamplin said: “The whole idea is to get as wide a range of participants as possible.

“Anyone can take part, it is not just for members of local athletic clubs, there are lots of sports where you have to be quick off the mark.

“We are trying to find raw talent, kids with quick reactions and looking for potential that might progress.

“When it was first suggested the event was staged here I did not expect Linford and Darren to come along, but they are really committed to, this it is not something they are just putting their names to.”

Races are taking place over 60m for males and females in the U13, U15, U17 and U20 age categories on Marine Parade next to the Sea Life Centre.

The fastest runners have a chance of going forward to the national Street Athletics final in Manchester in September.

Entry forms are available from the Marina Centre or by emailing jp@great-yarmouth.gov.uk and participants can register on the day between 4 and 5pm, with races from

5 to 7pm.

The coaching day is taking place from 4pm to 7pm at the Wellesley Recreation ground on Monday,

July 14. Off-track entertainment is being provided by a Sony music and

dance competition with prizes for the best acts.

In a glorious career Christie won 100m gold in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and 1993 World Championship, making 60 international appearances and winning 23 major titles.

After retiring from the track he moved into coaching, leading athletes, including Campbell, who was part of the gold medal-winning 100m relay team at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

For more information visit www.streetathletics.co.uk