YOUNGSTERS from across the county will be showing off their sporting talents at the Essex School Games.

The event will be held at the Basildon Sporting Village on Wednesday, from 10am until 4pm.

It will see more than 1,200 young people from primary and secondary school year groups compete across a range of sports including netball, swimming, handball, quad kids, pentathlon and tennis.

The games will be opened by 100 school children performing a routine, as well as VIP guest speakers, gold medallist and Paralympic athlete Tim Prendergast and England netball player Lindsay Keable.

They will be joined by Paralympian Hannah Stodel and Olympian Fiona Pennie.

The Essex School Games is part of the Sainsbury’s School Games Festival and is designed to deliver the sporting legacy promised by London 2012 and encourage more young people in to sport.

Sporting Village manager Tom Fletcher said: “We’re delighted to be hosting the Essex School Games for the third year in a row and are looking forward to seeing the next generation of sporting stars in action.

“We are committed to getting more people more active more often and want young people to get involved in sport, as well as develop a sporting habit for life.

For more information, visit www.Activeessex.org or www.yourschoolgames.com