Disabled pupils who competed in a sports tournament were given silver medals from a Paralympian.

The children, from West Lea School in Haverley Road, and Waverley School, in The Ride, Enfield, met Baroness Tanni-Grey Thompson at the Copper Box Arena on Thursday.

The team finished second in the Panathlon Multisport Finals at the London 2012 venue.

It included sports from boccia, precision beanbag to new-age kurling and field athletics, as well as table cricket.

Matthew Key, 15, a pupil at Westlea School, used to be a self-confessed “couch potato” whose autism contributed to him being “sullen, angry and difficult” in PE lessons.

But after taking part in Panathlon, he said: "There’s no doubt about it, Panathlon has given me a better future,” he said. “It has let me focus that negative energy into something positive instead of just mucking about.

"I’ve now started boxing at Finchley Amateur Boxing Club.

"One day, Anthony Joshua came in and sparred with me. My nose started bleeding, but despite that I just wanted to keep going. My ultimate ambition is to get every belt in the heavyweight division. It is honestly Panathlon that has let that fire in me.”

He added: "It means a lot to compete here because I idolise Olympians and Paralympians and to know that they've performed where I'm competing right now means a lot. It shows I'm following in their footsteps."

Baroness Grey-Thompson, winner of 11 Paralympic gold medals, added: "Panathlon is amazing because it brings sport and physical activity to a range of people who might not be so easily able to access it otherwise.

“What's really important is that Panathlon gives these young people the confidence to have a go, compete in front of their friends and with people watching them. It makes them feel really positive about themselves and builds an incredible team spirit between them.

“It's amazing to be here; it’s such a cool atmosphere. It's a little while since I came to my last Panathlon event and it has grown so much in that time.”

Paralympian gold medalist, swimmer Liz Johnson, was also present at the Copper Box.