AN early call has gone out to Olympic hopefuls.

The Greater Manchester Sports Fund is offering financial help to help the up and coming Dame Kelly Holmes, Amir Khan or Paula Ratcliffe on their way to the London Olympics.

The fund was set up to support budding athletes in the region aged 12 to 21 years old and is open to able bodied and disabled athletes from all sports.

It is specifically designed for athletes who have reached county, regional or national honours or who are perceived to have the potential to progress to these levels in the future.

Grants for anything from £50 to £750 will be available.

Nick Massey, chief executive of the Community Foundation comments: "This area has a history of producing sporting heroes, and this fund helps to make sure this continues to be the case. We anticipate an influx of athletes encouraged by the recent successful Olympic bid - and are sure that this fund will help to make sure our region is well represented there in 2012. "

For more information and to apply for funding contact the foundation on tel; 0161 214 0940.