Disabled sports people from Knowsley schools have scooped a series of medals at a national athletics event.
Thirteen pupils won through from a regional competition to reach the National Athletics for Disabled and Deaf Pupils final at Blackpool.
They excelled in the wheelchair racing, Javelin, Long Jump, Precision Club and sprint events at the regional contest at Manchester Sports City taking home 26 medals, including 11 Gold.
At the national finals at Blackpool's Stanley Park stadium, the Knowsley team won 12 medals - 4 Gold, 6 Silver and 2 Bronze. The points gained helped the North West team become outright winners.
The cost of taking part in the weekend event was met this year by a grant, applied for by two of the pupils taking part - Laura Webb from Kirkby Sports College and Brendan Farrell, from Springfield Special School.
Laura and Brendan, who were competing in the finals for the fourth time, secured £4,800 from the Big Deal fund.
This meant the team could stay with other competitors in Blackpool's Hilton Hotel and attend the Champions dinner and disco there.
Knowsley’s cabinet member for Leisure, Community and Culture, Cllr Eddie Connor, was at the games and was amazed at size of the event and the talent of the borough’s competitors.
He said: “This gives our young people a chance to show how good they are and to meet and mix with other young athletes from all over the country.
"The work going on to develop and encourage young disabled sports people in Knowsley is amazing.”
Knowsley’s team was chosen following a series of “Talent ID” days run by the Kirkby and Bowring Schools Sports Partnership to identify disabled young people with sporting ability in both inclusive and special schools.
So far, 100 youngsters have been identified and many are also involved in the National Playground to Podium initiative, run through the School Sports Partnerships and the Youth Sport Trust.
The programme helps identify talented athletes and supports them along their sports pathway.
Knowsley’s team at the the National Athletics for Disabled and Deaf Pupils final at Blackpool.
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