HUNDREDS of youngsters are counting down the days to the start of the Littlewoods Merseyside Youth and Mini Games.

An estimated 40,000 children have been involved in the build-up to this year's event, which have been hailed as 'the best' in the country.

The Littlewoods Mini games will be held on June 29 at Bootle Stadium and will attract 500 children from Primary Schools across the region. Once considered a satellite to the main event, the Mini Games has grown in stature providing competitions in six sports and in the future is set to grow even bigger.

The number of competitors in the Littlewoods Merseyside Youth Games is expected to rise above 2,500 this year. Secondary School children will represent their borough in more than 20 activities in St Helens on July 8 and 9.

Some of the winners this year will receive the added bonus of representing the county at the Millennium Games from August 17 to 20. Southampton is the venue for the inaugural national tournament.