More than a thousand children descended on the University of Kent for the finals of the Kent School Games on Wednesday.

In total, around 1,200 competitors, representing 14 regions of the county, came together to contest finals in eight different sports at the campus in Canterbury.

Sports Minister Helen Grant, MP for Maidstone & The Weald, addressed those taking part.

She said: "I’m absolutely delighted to be here today. Thank you so much for inviting me to your School Games.

"I haven’t been the minister for sport for that long but I’m really enjoying the job because it gives me the opportunity to do things like this, to be with you, and to involve myself with sport.

"Sporting success at school, at county and national level actually did so much for me. It kept me fit and healthy but it also gave me so much more.

"It helped to build up my self-confidence, my self-esteem, it taught me about leadership and teamwork and it taught me about discipline and respect. I can tell you that many of these life lessons that I learned through sport, as you’re learning now, I still apply today as a Member of Parliament."

Swimmer Chris Cook, who represented Great Britain at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, also spoke to the competitors in his capacity as Kent School Games ambassador.

Kent County Council leader Paul Carter was among the other dignitaries present.