A passion for netball has driven a boy to write to the Prime Minister to request more opportunities for boys to play the game.

Marcus Cunnington, a Year 6 student at Cunningham Hill Junior School has represented his school in their title-winning league campaign, but faced with the prospect of no longer being able to play when going to secondary school, he decided to take action.

Spurred on after seeing plenty of other boys taking part in a recent tournament he wrote to David Cameron about how netball for boys is underrepresented.

He received responses from both Mr Cameron and Education Minister Michael Gove, who recommended he contact England Netball for help.

Marcus, 11, also wrote to other junior schools in St Albans to see if there was interest in a boys-only netball game against Cunningham School, and within a matter of weeks a match was organised

Marcus’ mum, Julie, said: “I’m very proud of him, he’s taken something on board and challenged the stereotype about it being a girls’ sport.

“His letters were marked for the persuasive English and style and he got excellent feedback.”