HILLINGDON children narrowly missed out on gaining a place in the finals of a panathlon event for disabled young people.

The borough team was narrowly defeated by Merton and Sutton in the qualifying competition at St Mary’s University, Twickenham.

The finals are to be held in the Olympic Park in June and will involve disabled children from across the capital and Home Counties.

Helen Turner, a wheelchair basketball player, praised the friendly, competitive spirit of the competition.

“It's so nice to see pupils who might not normally be given the opportunity, playing competitive sport,” she said.

The Panathlon Foundation has been giving competitive opportunities for young disabled people since 1999.

More than 1,500 disabled young people will be involved in London panathlon competitions this year.