DOUBLE Olympic gold medalist Dame Kelly Holmes has been giving inspiration to some of Bexley’s talented sporting youngsters.

They were among a group of young athletes being put through their paces by a team of world class athletes.

The event, held in Barking, Essex, was part of the BT Backing Talent programme and was run by Dame Kelly’s charity the DKH Legacy Trust.

Among the Bexley young people taking part were GB Taekwondo squad member Sydney Craven, 16, from Barnehurst; Bexley Cricket Club member Adam Ball, currently playing for England in the under-19 cricket world cup in New Zealand and Sarah Louise Casey from Bexley who is part of the Great Britain Down Syndrome swimming team.

Sydney said: “The opportunity to work with the Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust and with elite athletes of a similar age has been a fantastic experience.

“After meeting Dame Kelly today, and so many other Olympians, it really has opened up my eyes to what I need to do both physical and mentally to reach my Olympic dream”

Dame Kelly said: “There are so many promising young performers in Bexley and it is fantastic to be able, to help these young performers on the long journey it takes to reach the top”