COACH Tom Middleton is preparing to travel to the Middle East to pass on his expert knowledge of the increasingly popular Paralympic sport of sitting volleyball.

Middleton, the Kent Volleyball Development Officer, is one of the pioneers of the sport in Great Britain and has represented the GB team himself on a number of occasions as he suffers from arthritis in his hip which qualifies as a 'minimal disability'.

The 60-year-old is predominantly involved in the establishment of a development programme to give Britain the chance to compete for medals when the Paralympics arrives in London in 2012.

The sport is played along similar lines to regular volleyball but is played on a smaller court with a lower net and the six players on each team must have one buttock on the floor at all times.

Middleton has turned Canterbury into something of a sitting volleyball hotbed as the only other areas to participate are London and East Yorkshire.

He is preparing to jet out to Saudi Arabia at the start of February where he will tutor coaches and play friendly games with the host country.

He will be accompanied by University of Kent student Sarah Pegg – who at 20 is already a coach and is heralded as a potential captain of the GB women's team for the 2012 games.

There is a serious shortage of potential players and Mr Middleton is urging potential paralympians to come forward, irrespective of their disability.

Anyone interested in playing sitting volleyball, whether disabled or not, can call Tom on 07710 772533 or email thomas@middleton2012.freeserve.co.uk