ASPIRING young basketball stars are representing Basildon in an inter-country knockout competition against other sides from Essex and east London.

Taking place at Basildon Sports Centre, more than 60 youngsters aged between 12 and 19 will be competing for the Street Ball trophy.

The Basildon representatives will competing against other players from similar schemes run in Southend and Leyton.

The competition came about due to the success of weekly training sessions run by Basildon Council and Positive Futures, with more than 20 new towners regularly attending the weekly sessions.

For those interested training sessions are held every week at Chalvedon School from 6 to 7.30pm.