A TOP sprinter from Bromsgrove has secured his place in the Great Britain team for this summer's Paralympics in Athens.

Richard White, of Wildmoor Lane, will compete in the 100 and 200 metres at the Games between September 17 and 28, shortly after the Olympic Games.

The 22-year-old, named npower English Federation Disability of Sport sportsman of the year at Aston Villa FC last month, cemented his place by achieving qualifying times at Cannock on May 1 and Birmingham on May 8. He ran the 200m in 28.5 seconds and the 100m in 13.7.

Richard, who has cerebral palsy, won bronze in both the 100 and 200m at the Sydney games in 2000 and is currently the European silver medallist over 100m and bronze over 200m.

And last month he underlined his intentions for Paralympic gold by beating friend and main rival Lloyd Upsdell, reigning Paralympic 100 and 200m champion, at a training camp in Cyprus.

Richard's father, Bill, said: "It's been four years work. We had a little bit of a celebration when we heard the selection."