SOME of the borough's best hopes to become 2012 Olympic contenders are to receive grants of £12,500 each to help with the cost of training and competing.

In return, the five athletes will become ambassadors for the donor, Ealing Council, and help promote sport and healthy living.Their duties will include visiting schools, youth groups and other organisations, as well as writing reports on their progress.

Dubbed Team Ealing, the group were named at the opening of Northolt Leisure Centre, in Eastcote Lane North, on Friday.

The five athletes are: * hockey players Hannah MacLeod, 25, and Anne Panter, 26, of Argyle Road, West Ealing; **sprinter Laura Turner, 27, of Garden Close, Northolt; * boxer Hannah Beharry, 23, of Brouncker Road, Acton, and; * Tae Kwon Do champion Joshua Webley, 18, of Greenford.

All except Mr Webley, who was away competing on Friday, said the money would make a big difference.

From travelling so they can train with some of the best boxers in the world, to visiting warmer climes to make sprinting training easier or being able to afford sports massages to help recover from injuries faster, they all hope the extra cash will give them the edge.

Miss Panter, whose GB hockey team finished sixth in Beijing, added: "I've never been part of a scheme like this before, it's a massive help. Hockey is not a sport where you get huge sponsorship deals and appearance fees and things like that.

"And it's nice to be part of Team Ealing with people who do other sports. We were able to mix like this in Beijing; it's always good to form these links and learn about each other's sports."

The athletes will receive the money in instalments as they hone their skills for London 2012.

Council leader Jason Stacey, added: "The borough is home to some very talented athletes and I am delighted that we had such a high calibre applying to join Team Ealing. I'm sure they will do themselves, the borough and the country proud."