WORCESTER'S Ian Harper claimed a double medal haul at the npower active Regional Athletics Competition at Alexander Stadium, Birmingham.

More than 435 athletes with physical, learning, hearing and visual impairments were at this year's regional championships, organised by the West Midlands region of the English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS) and supported for the second year by npower and Birmingham City Council Leisure and Culture Department.

Harper took a silver medal in the 200 metres, bronze in the long jump and sixth place in the 100 metres.

Danielle Parkes and Jonathan Fox, of Special Olympics, Worcestershire, also excelled, with Parkes taking bronze in the 50 metres, silver in the shot and fourth place in the 100 metres.

Fox gained gold in the long jump and fourth and fifth place in the 100 metres and 200 metres respectively.

The championships also featured 40 top deaf athletes who used the regional event to qualify for the European Championships.

The English Federation of Disability Sport also celebrated an extra cash boost thanks to sponsor npower, the Worcester-based home services provider for the Midlands, and the government initiative Sports Match.

The scheme doubled the funds pledged by npower and a cheque for £15,000 was presented to the EFDS at the championships on Sunday from Sports Match.

Dennis Hodgkins, Regional Development Manager for the EFDS, said: "This year's West Midlands championships was the biggest and best ever and provided a wonderful opportunity for talented athletes to compete in a top-class stadium and go on to even higher honours in their chosen sports."