PICKERING Town's teenage striker Brian Dutton has signed for third division side Cambridge United.

The 18-year-old, from Malton, impressed Cambridge boss John Taylor in a trial, while playing for their reserve side against Millwall reserves last Wednesday.

A delighted Dutton said: "There had been a Cambridge scout watching me at a few Pickering games and he contacted my dad to ask if I could go for a trial but I got injured. Then I was asked to go down for the Millwall game and I played just half-an-hour before I was taken off and the manager said he'd seen enough and wanted to sign me."

The former Brooklyn Juniors player has only played a handful of games for Pickering first team but has been particularly impressive for the under-19 and reserve teams since joining last year.

Dutton, an ex-pupil at Norton College, has been offered a professional contract until the end of the season. He will put his studies for a national certificate in sport, at York College's football development centre, on hold.

The teenager, who can also play centre-midfield, has previously had trials at Scarborough and Swindon.

Pikes' boss Steve Brown said: "He is a first-class boy with bags of enthusiasm. We are really pleased for him."

Brian is not the only one in the Dutton family with sporting talent. His father is former jockey, Dave Dutton, who won the Scottish Grand National in 1990 on Four Trix.

Updated: 10:59 Wednesday, November 26, 2003