AN ice hockey prodigy from Barry will be travelling to Canada to compete under the eyes of top talent scouts thanks to a sponsorship from a local business.

Cardiff Devils player Bayley Harewood, 12, has been playing ice hockey for five years and has already garnered every accolade and prize available to someone of his age.

The St Richard Gwyn pupil has now moved a step closer to his dream of playing in the NHL with Barry's S&G Air Conditioning Contracts Limited agreeing to fund his various expenses over the coming season, following an appeal in your Barry and District News.

Bayley's father Craig, 40, explained that because ice hockey is such a niche sport in the UK the expense of training camps, kit and travel often fall on the players and their families.

After making an appeal for help in sending his son to play in the world famous Quest for Quebec international pee-wee tournament, Mr Harewood was delighted to receive news of a sponsorship from the Barry based air conditioning company.

Bayley has been selected for the England squad - due to a lack of a Welsh team - at the tournament which is frequented by top American scouts who have already been tipped off about Bayley by the youngster's mentor and former Cardiff Devil Maxim Birbraer.

In his short time playing hockey Bayley has already been his team's top scorer and most valuable player as well as winning the All-Stars shirt in the South West conference for three years running.

Mr Harewood said: "The sponsorship will cover Bayley's expenses for the next two years. It's helped us out so much, without their help we would have struggled to fund it. We are really grateful.

"This will help push him in the right direction, towards achieving his goals."

S&G Air Conditioning Contracts Limited, based at Park Road, Barry, will have their company name emblazoned on Bayley's shorts, shirt and kitbag for the duration of the sponsorship.

Operations manager Paul Copner said: "We were made aware of Bayley’s search for sponsorship a short time ago and being a Barry based company it seemed like a great cause to support.

"To be able to sponsor a local lad who is already playing at such a high standard is great for ourselves. Hopefully we can watch Bayley go on to fulfilling his sporting ambitions in ice hockey and see him play at the very top level of his chosen sport."