A teenager selected to play inline hockey for Great Britain is pleading with companies to get their skates on and sponsor him.

Luke Epaminondas, 16, will jet off to Canada next Wednesday after being selected to represent his country in the 16 and under team in The World Inline Cup tournament.

The trip is costing his family £2,000 for travel and accommodation and £1,500 for a new kit.

Although they have managed to scrape together the money, the bill has wiped them out financially and they still need extra cash to support Luke in his chosen sport.

Luke, of Norwich Drive, Bevendean, needs spare hockey kits because they quickly wear out and this year he may have to miss out on his annual summer hockey camp unless he can find sponsorship.

On average, his family spend £150 a month on Luke's sport, going without holidays to fund it.

They have found some sponsors through friends and have offered to put the logos of supporting companies on his kit.

Luke's mum Sheena Stenning said: "Inline hockey is number one. Nothing else matters to Luke. He might be 16 but he is not a lout. Hockey is his life and that is it. That is what he lives and breathes."

Luke, who is dyslexic, has just finished his GCSE exams at Longhill School.

He was chosen to play for England from hundreds of players around the county in May after travelling to Deeside, near the Welsh border, for a selection match.

He got hooked on inline hockey more than five years ago after first playing the sport at Moulsecoomb Leisure Centre during a school holiday.

He joined the Street Stormers team and last year became a member of the Cruisers team.

He was captain of Street Stormers but had to step down from the position after he was selected to play for the regional team last year.

Luke is looking forward to his trip. He said: "It is a big event for me. It is the first time I have been to something this big. It is going to be good fun.

"I like inline hockey because it is a fast sport. It keeps you fit and it is fun as well. You get to meet new people.

"It was a rare sport over here but it is starting to pick up now. When I first started I did not think many people would be playing but there are a lot more people than I thought."