EIGHTEEN athletes from the Ellesmere Port and Neston Special Olympics team have been given a civic send-off by town mayor Tony Sherlock.

The group, with members aged from 14 to the mid 30s, head to Leicester on Saturday to compete in the Special Olympics GB National Games. They are included in the 248 strong North West team competing in a range of sports including boccia, ten pin bowling, tennis and netball.

The Ellesmere Port and Neston athletes have been training over the past 12 months.

Cllr Sherlock said: “The athletes are excited about this opportunity to compete for the North West in their chosen sport and have been working hard.”