PRIME ministerial hopeful Jeremy Hunt launched this year’s Surrey Para Games – the achievement he said he was probably most proud of as a local MP.

More than 250 SEND students took part in the event – now in its sixth year – competing in a variety of sports, including boccia, cycling, football, rowing, rugby, tennis and sitting volleyball.

Surrey Para Games, part of the 2018/19 Surrey School Games programme, is open to teams of up to 20 pupils per school with special educational needs in Years 7 to 10.

Lending her support again this year was Farnham-based games ambassador and multi-medal winning Paralympian Rachel Morris MBE.

Foreign secretary Mr Hunt said: “What I’m excited about is these are the biggest-ever games, with more schools from across Surrey.

“It started as the Waverley Para Games, it’s now become the Surrey Para Games – it’s got a life of its own.

“We have now happening in south-west Surrey the biggest disability sport event in the county, inspiring hundreds of young, disabled children with the power of sport and reminding them of what fantastic people like Rachel Morris have achieved.

“I want to sprinkle some of

that star dust on as many children as possible.”

The event is run in partnership with Charterhouse Club is sponsored by COINS Foundation, and also the DFN Charitable Foundation, which bought Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s former home in Hindhead for Stepping Stones special needs school.

Stepping Stones students gain work experience at the Hindhead Cookie Bar and its COINS-supported Cookie Bus was at the event.

Charterhouse Club commercial director Tim Ostle said: “This event introduces youngsters with special needs to an exciting range of activities.”