THREE athletes from Wirral have been selected to compete at the 2016 School Games.

The national multi-sport event which is designed for the UK’s elite young athletes will be taking place at Loughborough University and Sheffield from September 1-4.

In total 1,600 athletes will compete across 12 sports at the event, seven of which include disability disciplines.

The four-day spectacular is supported by National Lottery funding from Sport England and delivered by the Youth Sport Trust.

Michael Wood, 16, who attends Caldy Grange Grammar School, will represent Wales playing hockey.

Phoebe Croft, 15, a pupil from West Kirby Grammar School will be taking part in the 1,500m steeplechase, representing the North West.

16-year-old Rachael Scott who also attends West Kirby Grammar School will be playing table tennis for England North West’s team.

The young athletes will be following in the footsteps of some of Britain’s biggest sporting stars who have competed at the event before going on to senior international success.

Michael Wood, who trains at Neston, said: “I am really delighted to be chosen for the third time to represent Wales playing Hockey at the School Games.”

Previous competitors include Rio success stories such as Olympic gold medallist and world-record breaking swimmer Adam Peaty, Owain Doull, Georgie Twigg, Lily Owsley and Elinor Barker as well as Olympic bronze medallists Sophie Hitchon and Dina Asher-Smith. At the event they will experience the excitement of competing at the highest level.

They will live within the Olympic-style Athletes’ Village, attend spectacular opening and closing ceremonies and perform in front of a crowd of thousands.

There is a full education programme for the athletes running throughout the event which aims to give them an insight on life at the very highest level of sporting competition.

Phoebe Croft, who trains at Wirral Athletics Club, said: “I’m excited to be competing at such a prestigious event and one in which top class athletes have competed in in the past.”

The 1,600 athletes will be supported by 400 volunteers, many of which will be young people. Young reporters will be among the journalists reporting the action and many of the officials and coaches will also be young people.

Rachael Scott, who trains at Glenburn Table Tennis Club, said: “I’m extremely pleased as it is the culmination of a number of year’s hard work and perseverance.”

Tickets are currently on sale for all sport at the 2016 School Games.

To book visit www.2016schoolgames.com/tickets