WHEELCHAIR-USER Matthew Gleaves has been selected to represent Great Britain in the European Pool Champion-ships.

The talented pool player is ranked number two in the UK and will be flying to Holland for the week-long competition at the end of this month.

He will be competing against 32 other wheelchair-bound players from countries including Russia, Greece and Italy.

Mr Gleaves, of Cockerton, was selected after his performance in last year's UK Wheelchair Pool Tour.

The 35-year-old said: "I am really looking forward to the competition. I was picked after reaching the number two ranking following the UK tour. It was the first full tour I had done, so I was really delighted."

Mr Gleaves will be travelling to Holland with his wife Sharon, their four-year-old daughter, Emily, and four other wheelchair pool players.

He said: "I took up pool about 15 years ago as it was a sport I could compete on a level playing field with able-bodied people."

Mr Gleaves is a member of the British Wheelchair Pool Players' Association (BWPPA) and has been putting in extra practice for the competition at Riley's Snooker and Pool Club, in Darlington.

He said: "The BWPPA is always appealing for new members."

To find out more about the association log on to the website www.bppp.org