A Sussex new media firm has sponsored Olympic athlete Sean Baldock ahead of his appearance at the Sydney games.

Webzone stepped in to help Hastings-based Sean when Adidas and the National Lottery withdrew funding after he injured his hamstring last year.

Now the St Leonards firm has handed over £5,000 before he competes in the 400 metres and 4x400 metres relay.

Sean said: "This is very important to me. It helps with transport and training.

"I train at Hastings and Eastbourne but the Olympic trials were in Birmingham."

Daniel Wicks, Webzone marketing manager, said: "When we heard Sean wasn't being sponsored, we couldn't believe it."

The cheque was handed over to Sean by Mr Wicks and Donald Clark, the head of Brighton-based Epic Group, the firm which helped develop the Webzone internet console.