Pupils from Forest Primary School gave the athletes a send off

Ten of Guernsey's most promising young sports stars are on their way to the Commonwealth Youth Games in India.

The competitors left Guernsey for Pune ahead of the games starting on Sunday.

The island team was given a send off at the airport by their families, friends and pupils from Forest Primary School.

This is the first time Guernsey has sent a team and swimmer Alexander Beaton told the BBC: "This is a new experience. It's great to be part of it for the first time."

Beaton, fellow swimmers Robyn Le Friec, Victoria Parfit, James Jurkiewicz and Matthew Girard were joined by athlete Hywel Robinson and table tennis stars Alice Loveridge and Garry Todd.

Tennis player Nicholas Thibeault also made the trip with teammate Heather Watson joining the Guernsey contingent in London.

The third Commonwealth Youth Games are in Pune from the 12 to 18 October 2008 with more than 1,300 athletes and 350 officials from 71 countries participating in nine disciplines.

They are Athletics, Badminton, Boxing, Shooting, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Weightlifting and Wrestling.