A DISABLED couple are appealing for help to achieve their Paralympic dream.

Husband and wife table-tennis players Scott and Claire Robertson, from Saltney, have their sights firmly set on London 2012, but are looking for sponsors to help them on their way.

The talented duo, who boast a string of sporting titles, have to find the majority of the costs themselves.

A single bat can cost up to £150 and specialist sports wheelchairs can cost up to £3,000.

Claire, 34, said: “Scott has written to lots of companies, but a lot of them already sponsor football teams and things like that.

“It’s a shame, but table tennis often gets pushed to one side in favour of other sports like swimming and athletics which seem to get all the TV coverage.

“We would love to have some sponsorship. It would mean we were able to go to tournaments and have a better chance of qualifying.”

Scott, 34, who works part time for Cheshire West and Chester Council, has held the British Number One title for the past five years and Claire has been in the Great Britain team since 1993.

Claire used to be a cross-country runner until she suffered spinal injuries in a road crash 20 years ago.

She took up table tennis and met her husband at a competition in Australia in 1993.

The couple are heading off to the World Championships in Korea in October and are hoping to qualify for the Paralympics.

Claire said: “I would love to go to London. My family have never seen me play at a high level so it would be nice for them to be able to go.

“I’m playing well at the moment and Scott is playing really well. People always ask us are we going to win a medal, but when you start thinking about that it puts pressure on yourself, so I’m not going to say yes or no.”

After the Paralympics Claire is planning to hang up her bat.

“I would really like to have a family,” she said.

“I’m not getting any younger so I’d be quite willing to stay at home and look after the children while Scott carries on.”

If you would like to sponsor the couple, telephone Nick Wood-Dow on 0207 9397939 or email nwd@chelgate.com