A SOUTH Cheshire disability sports event is becoming so successful it may be expanded to cater for teams from around the world.

An annual boccia tournament held at Holmes Chapel Leisure Centre has grown increasingly popular over the years.

Boccia is similar to French boules and is played by sufferers of cerebral palsy and other disabilities that confine people to a wheelchair.

The eighth yearly event saw the Great Britain team, ranked third in the world, take on Canada, England, Scotland and Wales. The best players represent GB, while England, Wales and Scotland are viewed as feeder team.

Organiser Brian Allen, of Cerebral Palsy Sport, said: 'The manager of the Canada team was so pleased with the weekend that he wants to get together with the GB boss at the World Cup in Vancouver in May, and talk to other countries about getting involved and make it a bigger, more important part of the boccia calendar.

'We had 42 wheelchairs and around 130 people at Holmes Chapel and it was a little cramped. If the event were to grow, I think we would have to find another venue in the area, but it would be great for the sport.

'It was an excellent weekend, definitely the best yet. The standard of the play was incredibly high and everybody enjoyed themselves.'

The competition was used as a warm-up for next month's World Cup, and Canada's Paralympic champion Paul Gauthier was in action. GB's former Paralympic gold man Nigel Murray also took part.

Boccia competition is divided into categories depending on the severity of the player's disability. BC1 players have limited trunk movement, while BC2 have less mobility. BC3 participants use a ramp to dispatch their balls, while BC4 are disabled players who do not have cerebral palsy.

Great Britain won the team event, a combined BC1 and BC2 section for three-player teams. England, featuring Brian's son Nicolas, 31, from Goostrey, took second.

Canada took the BC3 pairs category with England runners-up, while GB won the BC4 with Wales in second.

The event is funded and supported by the Cheshire Building Society. Anyone interested in becoming either a player or supporter of Cerebral Palsy Sport can contact Brian Allen on 01477 535661.