Olympics inspires Yapton youngsters

More than 140 children including many from the Barnham, Bognor Regis, Middleton, Slindon and Walberton areas gathered for and week of Olympic type events.

The popular annual event, organised by the Yapton Free Church, enjoyed another successful year.

The church’s pastor, Hugo van Driel, said: “It has been a huge success in bringing the local communities together.

“There has been something for everyone from a teddy bear’s picnic for the very young, to a cream tea for the elderly, along with the fun and games organised each morning for the five to 11-year-olds.”

The fun included singing and story telling under the big top put up on Yapton village green and a five-a-side football tournament in which eight teams represented the surrounding villages.

But it was the Jonah and the whale team skippered by Ben van Driel from Yapton which emerged victorious.

Another highlight was when television star Graham Cole, who played Tony Stamp in the drama series The Bill joined Rustington based magician Steve Legg to provide an evening of brilliant entertainment.

As the week drew to a close, the young winners in each age group were all awarded medals.