THE Paralympics are already inspiring disabled young people in the area.

The Hollybank Trust, based in Mirfield, says its young residents are lining up to take part in the home’s sporting events after watching the Olympics and Paralympics.

Yesterday Paul Cartwright, a Trust ambassador and former Paralympian, spoke about thelasting legacy of the games as he drew the Trust’s raffle numbers at Sainsbury’s in Brighouse.

And staff from the Trust spoke of how inspiring the games were for young people with disabilities.

Paul is a former Newsome High School pupil who excelled in a variety of Paralympic sports, including wheelchair sprint and pentathlon.

He represented Great Britain in the 1984 Paralympics at Stoke Mandeville, where he reached the final of the 100 metres race, coming fifth.

He said yesterday: “I thought the Paralympic Opening Ceremony was brilliant, one of the best I’ve seen so far.

“I do hope the legacy of the games will be to inspire people to get involved in sport, particularly the disabled community.

“It goes to show that if you work hard and put the effort in you can achieve anything.”

Paul said that when he was younger sporting opportunities for disabled were available, but nowhere near as good as they are now.

He added: “Kirklees Disabled Sports Association existed, which I got involved with, but it’s improved so much.

“Disabled people can take part in most sports these day, which is brilliant to see.”

Paul is an ambassador for Hollybank Trust and Suzanne Barton from the Trust said its young residents were already more active as a result.

“They’re glued to the TV watching what happens,” she said.

“It’s already inspired them because they’re queuing up to take part in our sport events.”

Suzanne and the team from Hollybank were at Sainsbury’s in Brighouse yesterday with Paul to pick the winners of the summer raffle.

She said working with local businesses helped them spread the word of their work.

Colin Meah, manager of the store, added: “Sainsbury’s sponsors the Paralympics and we as a store are doing all we can to support disabled groups become more active.”

The winners of the Trust’s summer raffle are: £1,000 – Brian Brickwood of South Kelsey, £25 – Margaret Clegg of Hove Edge, £10 – K Beevers of Elland.