"ANYTHING is possible if, you really try hard enough" was the inspiring message that a Paralympic GB athlete instilled when she visited a Furness school.

Beverley Jones, who won a bronze medal in the discus for Great Britain at London 2012 Paralympic Games, was a special guest at Ireleth St Peter's School on Thursday.

Sports For Champions brought the athlete to the school and the sports star inspired and encouraged the students and oversaw them doing sponsored circuit training in the sports hall.

The youngsters' activities included doing press-ups, star jumps, spotty dogs and leg drives. They had to complete as many repetitions of each exercise for one minute.

The children raised £472 through their sponsored sport activities to support Sports For Champions in helping young athletes with international potential to realise their Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth dreams.

Ireleth St Peter's headteacher Rachael McFarlane said they were "privileged" to welcome the Paralympian to school.

In the summer of 2000 the athlete, who has cerebral palsy, was selected for the Great Britain Paralympic team. She has competed at Sydney, Athens, Beijing, London and Rio Paralympics. Over the years she has competed in sprint events, shot put and discus, winning her bronze in the discus at her home games.

The Welsh athlete took time to speak with individual children and take a question and answer session with the group. She was impressed by the children’s sporting ability and thanked the school for all the money they had raised.

Mrs McFarlane said: "The afternoon was fantastic, a real success. The children were left inspired by the key message from Beverley that anything is possible if you really try hard enough.

Teaching assistant Gemma Ritchie said: "All the children thoroughly enjoyed the circuit challenge. They raised a large sum of money, which will go towards helping athletes compete for Great Britain."