Pupils at a Bradford school have gone to unusual lengths to help a blind classmate achieve her dream of representing Britain at next year's Paralympics in Australia.

They have learned a game for blind people called goal ball and play it wearing goggles which restrict their sight to help Laura Maloney, 15, of Clayton, earn a place in the British women's goal ball team.

Laura, who lost her sight to cancer at the age of five, asked staff at Rhodesway School in Allerton if her pals could help her with extra weekly training for the sport, played in a roped- off court with a ball containing a bell.

The other players wear the goggles to have no advantage over Laura in the energetic sport, in which teams of three players try to score goals against each other by catching and throwing the ball located by the ringing of the bell.

"I needed some extra training so I went to the teachers to ask if any of the pupils could play a game with me after school," said Laura, the only blind pupil at the school.

"Everyone likes it although they find it very difficult when they first put the goggles on and can't see the ball.

"I play for the British women's goal ball team and we play in tournaments around the country and train at weekends.

"It really would be great to go to Sydney next year. The British team has qualified to go through and a squad of eight will be chosen next year.''

Laura is studying for nine GCSEs and hopes to go to a college for the blind and visually impaired in Worcester to do A levels before going to university.

Steve Bell, head of physical education at the school, said: "It's fascinating watching the pupils play goal ball. They really enjoy themselves."

Rhodesway head teacher John Fowler said: "Laura shows great achievement and determination in everything she does.

"We knew she was involved in goal ball and the staff and pupils have put a great deal of time and effort into helping her in her training.''

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.