A group of 21 aspiring young athletes from Merton have been awarded grants of up to £1,250 each to pursue their sporting dreams.

The grants were awarded at a special event at London’s BT Tower last week by Freedom Leisure in partnership with the GLL Sport Foundation, a social enterprise which supports young sporting talent across the UK.

Amongst the recipients was 14-year-old biathlete Elliott Laville who has represented England at the World Biathle Championships since the age of 10.

He said: "I train very hard every week and am fully committed to my sport. This award will help towards the increasing cost of competing nationally and internationally."

Peter Bundey, chairman of the GLL Sport Foundation added: "There has never been a more exciting time to be involved in helping young sporting talent."

Around 1,300 UK athletes from more than 80 sporting disciplines will share in the £750,000 funding pot, more than 90 per cent of whom will receive no other sport funding.