STUDENTS and teachers donned rainbow boot laces and went head to head in a bid to stamp out homophobia in football.

Year 11 students at Hurworth School, in Hurworth, near Darlington, took on their teachers against a backdrop of rainbow gay pride flags to support a worldwide movement to stop anti-gay abuse in football.

Launched by Stonewall – the lesbian, gay and bisexual charity - the rainbow laces campaign is now in its second year and saw players from 52 clubs taking part in last year’s movement.

Staff member Julie Watson said the students had a lot of fun, despite losing 2 – 0 to their teachers.

“They were well supported, and they all had fun which is what it was all about,” she said.

“The students at the school are about to study homophobia, so it linked in with their studies.

“But it was also to stop homophobia at the school – luckily we don’t have much of it, but this will help tackle any we do have."