YOUNG Paralympic hopefuls from Lowestoft yesterday (Monday) received a sports scholarship to fund a trip to Sweden, where they will represent their country in the World Athletic Championships.

YOUNG Paralympic hopefuls from Lowestoft yesterday (Monday) received a sports scholarship to fund a trip to Sweden, where they will represent their country in the World Athletic Championships.

Four athletes from The Ashley School have been selected for the Great Britain athletics team and were given a Suffolk County Council SportsAid scholarship of �1,500.

Chelsea Dixon, 16, Holly Durbidge, 16, Kimberley Aspland, 15 and Lewis Pryke, 16, will take part in the championship for athletes with learning disabilities in Sweden in April.

The money will go towards the cost of this trip, plus a trip to Croatia in July where they will represent Great Britain at the European Track and Field Championships.

All four teenagers are working towards selection for the 2012 Paralympics in London.

Lewis, who competes in the 60m hurdles and pentathlon, said he had been training for two years.

'I want to make sure I come back with a medal from Sweden,' he said.

The Ashley School is for youngsters with moderate learning disabilities. Headteacher Lorraine Dupen said: 'Word's fail me actually, because it's such a fantastic achievement by all of them.

'This is a dream come true for these athletes.'

They were presented with the scholarship by council leader Jeremy Pembroke at a special assembly at the school.