NORTH-EAST wheelchair basketball player Terry Bywater insists Great Britain's BT Paralympic World Cup disappointment will be banished to the annals of history by the time the European Championships in September come around.

Great Britain had grand designs in Manchester and planned to take revenge on France - their 2010 World Championships conquerors - in their opening match but defeat, coupled with a narrow loss to Paralympic silver medallists Canada, scuppered their chances of reaching the final and defending their title.

Great Britain did recover some pride - downing Brazil for the second time in a week - to seal bronze but Bywater and co struggled to hide their disappointment at missing out on the final.

But rather than dwell on that disappointment, Bywater insists that the current Great Britain side will be unrecognisable when they convene in the capital for next year's London Paralympics.

"We haven't been together since the worlds as a unit, you can't expect to come together and in two days' time beat the best in the world but it's a long step to London," said 28-year-old Bywater, who has featured at three Paralympic Games.

"If people start looking into this and wondering what is happening with the men's GB basketball team, I would tell them to look elsewhere because it's a long road.

"You don't win a Paralympic gold medal now; you win it in September next year. Obviously it would be good for us preparation wise, but I wouldn't read anything too deep into it.

"Our preparation for Beijing was perfect because the 12 players who went were together in each others' pockets for a year leading up to that tournament. So if we do the same in the lead-up to London 2012 that can only help us.

"You can't bring 12 guys together and expect them to play good basketball immediately."

Great Britain will be looking to banish their Paralympic World Cup disappointment as early as possible, starting with this September's European Championships in Israel where they have sealed two silver and two bronze medals at the last four tournaments.

And Bywater is adamant improvements will be plain for all to see in Israel.

"This is the first stepping stone towards Israel. We take this tournament really seriously because it's in our own backyard and we come here to win it," he added.

"But it's also the first step towards Israel, and then towards London 2012.

"And there's been some good stuff, I don't think we played poor basketball, I just think we shot poorly.

"We'll always be the fittest team in the world, simply because of the effort we put in. If we go to Israel and play like we did here, then we won't get a medal, but I'm sure we'll do better in Israel."

The BT Paralympic World Cup took place in Manchester from 23-28 May with elite international athletes competing in Swimming, Athletics and Wheelchair Basketball. Go to www.btparalympicworldcup. com for more information