POTENTIAL Olympians had a golden glow after Halton teams won three titles and a host of other honours at the two-day Mersey-side Youth Games.

Our youngsters did the borough proud in the multi-sport event which took place on Wirral in the week London won its fight for the 2012 Olympics.

The action on Saturday centred on secondary age-group athletes. The local highlights included victory for Halton boys' rugby team and silver for the mixed boccia team for young people with disabilities.

Equally welcome were fair-play awards for Halton's athletics, boys' basketball and girls' basketball teams.

On Sunday, there was a more relaxed atmosphere for the primary events.

But Widnes-based Ditton School's high fives netball squad ran out winners. And Hill View School, from Runcorn, were joint first in the mixed hockey event where they also secured the fair-play award.

St Bede's School took silver in a mixed basketball event and shared the fair-play award with fellow Widnes school St Michael's Primary

There were also fair-play awards for our girls' mini-soccer, mixed football and kwik cricket teams.

In all, more than 300 Halton children - supported by 64 team managers, parents and coaches - took part after earning the right to compete through various talent trials and competitions.

Halton and Frodsham Harriers, Runcorn Hockey Club, Lane Tennis Club, Halton Netball Club and Halton Borough Council's sports development team played a big part in their preparation.

Councillor Phil Harris, executive board member for sport, said: 'All the teams who took part played well and I congratulate all those who received fair-play awards for showing such team spirit and sportsman-ship.'