Thousands of athletes competed at the last games in Rhodes in 2007

The chairman of the Guernsey Island Games Association says the credit crunch means fewer athletes are wanting to go to this summer's games in Aland.

The men's basketball team and clay target shooters have already pulled out and more could follow.

Denise Fawcett says the squeeze on incomes along with the falling value of the pound, means it is more expensive.

"I don't ever remember the team getting smaller," the 30-year veteran of the Island Games told BBC Guernsey.

"If anything we've always tried to increase the team's size. This is just very, very unusual circumstances," she added.

Most athletes pay their own way to represent Guernsey at the Island Games, although some of the costs are picked up by sponsors.

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