School sport: More than 1,500 competitors aged between seven and 15 are taking part in West Yorkshire's biggest annual multi-sport event tomorrow.

This year there are nine sports in the fifth annual West Yorkshire Youth Games at Leeds Metropolitan University's Beckett Park campus.

They are athletics, basketball, boccia (a form of bowls), girls' football, hockey, netball, rugby league, rugby union, and gymnastics, which is making its debut.

The diving events will, however, be at Shipley Pool a week on Sunday.

Mick Wood, principal community sports and activities development manager for Bradford Council, said: "We will be taking part in all the sports, and in most cases will be sending at least two teams.

"We are quite hopeful in most of the sports, and there are also Fair Play awards to go for."

Wood, who is based at Horton Park Bottom Lodge, added: "In years gone by we have had people taking part for us who have gone on to bigger and better things, and who is to say that this time won't be the same?"

A classic example of the Games providing a stepping-stone to selection at national level is Leeds' Sarah Jones.

She represented her city at netball in 2000 when she was 13.

Now Sarah is in the England under-17 squad, and she said: "The West Yorkshire Youth Games were a great experience for me.

"It was the first time I had been selected to play at a higher standard and had to play with new team-mates.

"This has helped me tremendously now I am playing for England. Above all though, the Youth Games were a lot of fun."

Nigel Harrison, manager of Games organisers West Yorkshire Sport, said: "This year's Games will be the largest yet in West Yorkshire.

"We expect over 1,500 young people to be involved, and with parents and friends coming to cheer them on that number could be doubled. It should be great fun."

Although Wood couldn't say how large Bradford's squad would be, Kirklees will be taking 250 tomorrow.

Last year they won the under-11 boys' hockey, were runners-up in the under-11 athletics and took the Fair Play awards in boccia, hockey, netball and rugby league.

The Games are the culmination of inter-school competitions, training, trials and sports coaching in the area from sports co-ordinators, local sports clubs and schools all working in partnership with Kirklees Leisure and Reccreation Services.

"We view the Games as being one element of sports development in Kirklees which builds on the networks, pathways and opportunities available for young people to get and stay involved in sport," said Claire Howe of Kirklees Leisure and Recreation Services.