A Norfolk cricketer paid a visit to Norwich's Hall School as he played a table version of the popular game with its pupils.

Spin bowler Chris Brown put the children at the school in Old Catton through their paces by playing the game, which has been developed especially by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

Table cricket was created to give children with severe physical or learning difficulties the opportunity to play competitive cricket.

It is played on a table tennis table, with side panels featuring nine sliding 'fielders'.

A small plastic ball is bowled from a launcher, and the batsman has to hit the ball between the fielders to score runs.

Mr Brown, a former professional county cricket player for Lancashire and Glamorgan, said: 'Table cricket is a fantastic initiative from the ECB in bringing our game to disabled young players.

'Not only were they having great fun but also picked up some tactical awareness of the game in general, which is excellent.'

Will Gant, Hall School PE co-ordinator adds: 'We have been using table cricket in school for the past few weeks for the less ambulant students as an alternative to Kwik Cricket.

'It is a great game for any student as it combines the fundamental skills of striking and fielding with other curriculum aims such as numeracy and literacy.'

The Hall School children will be playing table cricket again as part of their sports day on Tuesday, July 19, when athletics, a penalty shootout, cross country and a 'scooter-athlon' will form part of the day's activities.

The sports day is being supported by the sports and leisure team at Broadland District Council, which provides coaches to visit Hall School twice a week to coach the children in a variety of sports.

The council's sports development officer, Maria Alborough, said: 'Everyone should have the chance to get involved with sport, no matter what their capabilities.

'The kids love it, and the beauty of table cricket is it doesn't matter what the weather's like outside.'

Is your school taking part in an unusual or new sporting activity? Contact editor David Freezer on 01603 772418 or email david.freezer@archant.co.uk