A SQUAD of Olympians has been given £10,000 to help them go for gold.

Fifty-one athletes from east Cleveland will compete in the seventh Special Olympics National Summer Games, in Glasgow, in July.

They will be among 255 members of the Northern team, managed by Keith Wilcox, of Skelton Social Skills Centre. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's Local Joint Committe has voted to give the team £10,000.

The money will go towards a £17,000 bill for tracksuits, uniforms and equipment for the athletes, who have learning difficulties.

Mr Wilcox said: "If we get all the money in that has been promised, we will reach the target. It is an absolutely brilliant donation, which will help us be one of the best kitted-out teams at the games."

John McCormack, chairman of the Local Joint Committee, which is made up of trade union members and councillors, said: "We helped them four years ago and they came back with a boat-load of medals. We are delighted to be backing them again -they are an absolutely worthwhile cause."

There will be 2,500 athletes from across Britain competing in 23 sports, helped by more than 1,000 volunteers.