THERE was a standing ovation for paralympion Mark Eccleston as he urged students at The Lakes School to overcome whatever obstacles life might throw in their path.

The Paralympic tennis champion was on ribbon-cutting duty to open the Troutbeck Bridge secondary's new PE resource and performance room but also took time to deliver a stirring motivational speech.

He told pupils that he felt everything was against him when he ended up in a wheelchair aged 16 after falling out of a tree.

He lost his place to train with St Helens Rugby Club and felt his life was over. But he soon turned back to sport which had always driven him before the accident and started playing wheelchair rugby before discovering a talent for tennis.

"He told them everyone has a talent, but you have to work for your goal, believe it and go for it," said assistant head teacher Helen Robinson. "The students stood up and applauded him... it was tremendous."

Mr Eccleston whose visit was organised and funded by Sport England then officially opened the Lakeland Limited Room', bearing the name of the Windermere firm which supported the school's bid for specialist sports status to the tune of £30,000.

The room boasts an interactive white board, computers and exercise bikes linked up to a PC to monitor blood pressure so students can measure fitness and performance. As well as assisting pupils at the specialist sports school, local clubs will also be able to use the facility.

Mrs Robinson said: "The school is 40 years old and it is showing its age. This is an up-to-date facility which raises the whole profile of PE and is a resource for other subjects too."