A number of Olympic and Paralympic athletes have expressed concern at the government's decision to axe funding for school sports announced last week.

In the chancellor's Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR), it was confirmed that £162m of investment is to be cut, which will include funding for the School Sport Partnerships network. Former Olympic heptathlon gold medallist Denise Lewis is one of the athletes to come out in opposition to the proposed cuts in her role as school sport ambassadors for the Youth Sport Trust.

Olympic badminton silver medallist Gail Emms; Olympic sailing silver medallist Joe Glanfield and sprinting gold medal winners Jason Gardener and Darren Campbell have also voiced fears, along with Paralympic swimming gold medallist Sascha Kindred. Lewis said: "From the very young at primary level, right through to those who are in their last years at school, we must do all we can to ensure young people get the very best opportunities to take part in sport at school.

"The School Sport Partnership network is a vitally important structure we have in place to deliver this and it is producing some fantastic results that must continue."