HUNDREDS of children with disabilities from across Lancashire descended on Preston this week for the second annual special schools football tournament.

More than 250 children from 20 special schools turned out in the rain to compete at Preston Sports Arena, in the five-a-side competition which was organised to give the children, of varying degrees of disability, a chance to play in a competitive tournament.

Games of eight minutes were played in the pool stages, which were lengthened to 15-minutes for the finals.

The under 19s team from the Elms special school, Moor Park, Preston put in some good performances in the section of severe learning and physical disability to come in third out of eight teams.

Moorfields special school, also of Moor Park came in fifth in the same section, with White Ash School from Oswaldtwistle winning the section.

The overall winner of the whole competition was a team from Morecambe Road School, Morecambe who were presented with a shield and medals by Mayor of Preston, Councillor Pat Woods.

Sherburn special school, of Moor Park, Preston played well but did not get past the pool stage

Stephanie Wilson, disability sport and leisure officer at the city council, said: "It was a fantastic day, I don't even like football and I really enjoyed it! ."

The tournament was organised jointly by Preston City Council, Lancashire Sport, the Lancashire Football Association and the English Federation of Disability Sport.