A TEENAGE cricketer has defied the odds to become one of County Durham's most celebrated young players.

Gareth Walton has firmly established himself in the squad at Willington Cricket Club as an accomplished bowler, batter and fielder.

The 17-year-old has had to overcome taunting and physical disability due to Poland Syndrome, which meant he was born with no left arm below the elbow, to excel in the sport he loves.

Gareth, from High Jobs Hill, Crook, County Durham, is vice-captain and first bowler for the club's under-18 team.

He has also become a regular name on the first and second senior team sheets and was last season named in an overall Readers Durham County League side.

Darren Brown, the club's development officer, said: "Gareth is a fantastic inspiration. He regularly plays for the first team because he is an excellent cricket player.

"He is talented in all aspects of the game and never lets us down. He is a real inspiration for younger players."

The respect Gareth has earned on the sports field flies in the face of his life as a toddler, when he and his sister Laura were teased about his disability.

In 1992, The Northern Echo wrote about a campaign by Gareth's mother, Liz Ridley, to increase awareness about disabilities following the taunts.

Gareth said: "I wouldn't say I was bullied but there was teasing, and once I started playing cricket I came in for some real sledging from other teams.

"At first they thought I would be easy to play against so they'd bat towards me and even my own team used to try to protect me.

"But I've made some good catches and taken plenty of wickets so now everyone knows me for my cricket, not my arm.

"Everyone at Willington has been wonderful since I joined when I was 12.

"I live for cricket and hope to pass that on to others."

Gareth also captains the football team at Durham Sixth Form Centre, where he studies law, the classics and sports studies.

He has already gained the first level of coaching qualifications needed to work with children at Willington, plans to coach blind youngsters at Durham Cricket Club and hopes to become a full-time coach.