PUPILS at a Poole school have been getting to grips with one of the fastest growing Paralympic events – a sport originally devised to rehabilitate blind World War Two combat veterans.

Youngsters at Hamworthy Middle School spent their PE lessons trying out goalball.

Assistant head and PE leader James Lumber said: “The children were blindfolded and had to throw a ball with a bell in it.

“For safety reasons they had a classmate without a blindfold next to them but everyone found this a really exciting, enjoyable challenge.”

The fast-paced sport, played competitively in more than 100 countries, is tipped to become a smash hit at this year’s London Paralympics.

It is contested by visually impaired teams of three, with a plastic ball – containing a bell and weighing more than a kilogram – that can reach speeds of up to 60mph on an indoor pitch.

Players attempt to hurl the ball into a nine-metre wide goal, while the opposition throws their bodies in the way to stop them.

Hamworthy Middle School is trying out a range of Paralympic events, through Sainsbury’s ‘One Million Kids Challenge.’ This initiative aims to get one million youngsters across the UK taking part in a Paralympic sport.

Mr Lumber told the Daily Echo how awareness of Paralympic sports at school level had grown significantly during the past two years.

He added: “We are even being offered tickets to watch Paralympic events.

“And, of course, the Paralympics take place during term time, while the Olympic Games take place over the summer holidays.

“So when we come back in September, the Paralympic Games will be something we can share with students.”

• THE British Paralympic athlete Anna Sharkey, who helped Team GB win gold at the 2009 Goalball European Championships, is one to watch at the 2012 London Paralympic Games.