YOUNG ball players at Tavistock Primary School are celebrating success in a competition which won them some expert basketball coaching.

Children at the school entered a competition run by a Plymouth newspaper and netted one of the the prizes — six special coaching sessions with members of the Plymouth Raiders basketball team.

Tom Ewings, a Year 6 pupil at the school, said: 'We had to say in 25 words why we wanted the Raiders to help us with our training.

'We said something about having nice new basketball posts, nice new equipment, but no nice new coach!'

Teacher John Stinton, who usually takes the basketball sessions, said: 'I was amazed we won — I think there were only six or seven winners altogether.

'There was a desperate struggle to get the posts in then — they got here only about an hour before the session!'

Mr Stinton said the children were not the only ones learning new skills.

'It's been years since I played so I'm picking up things as well,' he said.

And Nick Chatzinikolis of Plymouth Raiders obviously made a good impression on the 20 members who regularly attend basketball club.

'We've learnt a lot, how to dribble and skills with the ball,' said Thomas Honey.

'It's excellent,' agreed Tom Gilmore.

The school's brand new posts were put up thanks to the English Basketball Association's outdoor basketball initiative which is funded by the Lottery Sports Fund.

'It's part of the school's drive to improve sporting provision for our children,' said headteacher Joe Flynn.

He thanked David Glover of TACRA who helped with the installation of the posts, and Hanson Aggregates who provided cement at greatly reduced prices.