As the Leader revealed earlier this year, basketball team BiG Storage Cheshire Jets has teamed up with the University of Chester to offer a foundation degree in basketball sports coaching.

The two-year degree starts in September at the Warrington campus, with 25 places available, and three lucky basketball enthusiasts could receive a scholarship to study for the degree.

A "shoot-out" on Sunday July 13 will enable prospective students to visit the University of Chester and give them chance to show off their basketball talent.

Andrew Donaldson, partner of BiG Storage, based on Sealand Road, said: "People over 17 years of age can apply to join us for the shoot-out by contacting the BiG Storage Chester branch on 01244 399993."

As well as the scholarships, BiG Storage Cheshire Jets are also hoping to get the area's youngsters to apply for the degree course.

The course will be just one of a small number of courses offered throughout the UK in basketball coaching where students will be given an opportunity to develop their coaching skills alongside professional coaches and players, and will help out with spreading basketball to schools in Cheshire.

Mr Donaldson, who came up with the initial idea last year, said: "We are opening up an exclusive opportunity to the youth of our community to consider a career in a family-orientated sport, that promotes family values and healthy living.

"Basketball is a sport that is starting to take a real hold in this country, and in order to encourage its organic growth initiatives such as the foundation degree course and offering scholarship opportunities can only contribute positively towards producing the calibre of players, coaches and community liaison officers that we need.

"We even hope that we might see one of the students on the professionals' bench next season, where they will be given the opportunity to play alongside the BiG Storage Cheshire Jets, as well as playing in the BUSA league for the university team."