Paragliding pilots hope to reach new heights in their sporting triumphs by winning a world cup for Britain.

Carlo Borsattino, from Alfriston, Mark Watts, from Ringmer, and Russell Ogden, from Brighton, are preparing to descend on Mexico for the world championships.

The daring Sussex aerial aficionados have been chosen from a pool of more than 4,000 paraglider pilots across the country to join the British Paragliding Squad.

They were selected after undergoing a series of tough competitions, both at home and abroad, and are now among the top 15 pilots who make up the national squad.

The trio is now in training to represent Britain in the Paragliding World Cup which is being held in the mountains near Guadalajara, Mexico's second largest city, in January.

They will take on the reigning Swiss champions and compete against scores of other national teams.

The elite team will have to complete in a race at almost 16,000ft above the mountains, where they will have to negotiate a set course, spinning and twisting to catch thermals rising up the side of jagged rocks, in an airborne battle for the cup.

Carlo, who runs his own business importing paragliding and kite-surfing equipment, said flying round rocks at 16,000ft was not as extreme as it sounded.

He said: "It's not a hectic sport. It can be quite relaxing really. You fly high above some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world.

"It is the challenge of it which gives you the buzz.

"It is not easy to fly well and that is the competition, proving you are the best.

"It is an amazing feeling, being up in the air above the terrain and flying.

"The Swiss get a lot of practice because they train off The Alps. It's not quite the same in this country but we are going out there to win."

The World Cup, an annual series of events, will be held in Mexico, France, Italy, Turkey and Korea.

Earlier this year, Carlo came second in the British Championships; Russell, a full-time paragliding instructor for Sussex Hang Gliding and Paragliding club, came fourth and Mark, a tree surgeon, fifth.

They train on the South Downs and off the cliffs at Beachy Head and Newhaven.