Stonehouse table tennis star Billy Shilton has been included in a squad of 13 athletes to represent ParalympicsGB in Tokyo next month.

The 22-year-old received a wild card after narrowly failing to secure qualification at the World Qualification Tournament in Slovenia in June and will be competing in his first Paralympic Games.

“When I found out that I had been given a wild card I was so excited,” he said.

“I’ve had a couple of weeks now for it to sink in. Seeing the kit and everything it is really nice to be involved in all the preparation so I can’t wait.

“Going to Rio as part of the Paralympic Inspiration Programme was brilliant – I think the Paralympics is something that you can only experience if you see it, so it was great to experience the environment and the atmosphere.

“Obviously, it will be a bit different this time but just to see everything and the scale of everything will really help me in Tokyo for sure. I just want to take every match as it comes – play the best I can and hopefully the results will come.

“Everyone on the team gets on so well and that can only be a positive going into the Games, so I’m really excited.”

Shilton will compete in the men’s class 8 singles and the men’s class 8 team event.

The Paralympic Games get underway on August 24.