THREE world class athletes visited a Chorley school to present awards to the pupils.

Students of Southlands High, Clover Road, met disabled table tennis players Ian Littlewood, Lynne Ryding and Barry Crook when they presented year nine interim awards to 134 Southlands pupils.

The trio also gave a talk to the youngsters about facing life with a disability.

Pupils heard how Southport's Ian Littlewood -- disabled after an accident at university in which he broke his spine -- is now chairman of the Great Britain Paraplegic Table Tennis Society.

Fellow athlete Barry Crook, also from Southport -- who has one leg shorter than the other -- told his story. He went to the Sydney Para-Olympics, but also plays in the veteran able-bodied people's league in his home town.

They were joined by sportswoman Lynne Ryding, from Preston. She is unable to move her legs and has no grip in her hand after she suffered a broken neck. But she is now ranked fifth in the world and second in Britain at table tennis.

Teacher Karen Briggs who organised the visit said: "The pupils were amazed at how these people had put up with a real set-back in life, and gone on to achieve so much. They were a real inspiration to the children. The pupils found their talk very interesting."