A WATER polo player is on his way to the junior world championships - if he can raise enough money to take part.

Matthew Bowden, of Newton Aycliffe, has been selected for the Great Britain team invited to play in the tournament in Naples, Italy, in August.

The 19-year-old is a member of the Sedgefield 75 Swimming Club and has been an international water polo player for four years.

His biggest tournament to date was the European championships in Germany two years ago.

The junior world championships would be the highlight of his career, but to travel each squad member has to raise £1,500.

Matthew, a former pupil at Woodham Community Technology College, in Aycliffe, and Darlington's Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, is hoping local businesses will sponsor him.

He said: "As far as junior water polo goes, you cannot get any higher than this. The next step up would be taking part in the Olympics, so it is about as high as you can go. There is a chronic lack of funding for water polo at the moment; it is all going to swimming.

"The majority of our team are students and there is only one guy who works. We are not professionals like the other countries, so finding the money is difficult."

Matthew, who is studying Chinese and politics at the University of London, plays in the national first division for Rotherham.

To sponsor him, call 01325 321217.