A SCHOOL is about to go ping-pong crazy as a premier table-tennis club is being set up for pupils.

Withins School in Newby Road, Breightment, has brought in eight new table tennis tables and a robot machine that fires ping pong balls at students so they can practise individually, in a bid to become established as a centre of excellence for the sport within the next couple of years.

England's number one tennis player Andrea Holt will be helping to coach the youngsters as part of her role as school table tennis development officer for the North.

Science teacher Ben Dudley used to run a top table tennis club in Manchester and he wants to start a similar club at Withins.

He said: "Table tennis is good for hand co-ordination and it is in the top three fastest sports.

"Table tennis can be played by people irrespective of age, gender or disability. Eight-year-olds could potentially play 70-year-olds -- it is a great leveller in that way."

Mr Dudley said table tennis is physically demanding when played at performance level and he added it was a good sport for youngsters who do not want to run about outside in the cold.

It is hoped youngsters who join the club would soon be able to compete in the local league, moving up to county level and then on to national competitions.

Mr Dudley said: "The great thing is that this will give young people from less privileged areas the opportunity to travel around and meet different people. It should really broaden their horizons."

The school has a formidable reputation for both unusual and mainstream sports. Youngsters at the school also excel in wrestling and three female students are England internationals in handball.

Students are often taken cycling at the Velodrome in Manchester and a top rugby league team is also being developed.