A FOUR-YEAR-OLD boy has swept the board at a prestigious athletics championship for dwarves.

Ben Prater, who attends Tor View Community Special School, Haslingden, won six gold medals at the British National Open Games in Wolverhampton.

The remarkable youngster, from Moorland Rise, in the town, also walked away with the award for Best Male Young Athlete.

Competing in the Under-6s category, Ben was victorious in the 10-metre sprint, tennis ball and frisbee throws, swimming, new age curling and football.

Organised by the Dwarf Sports Association UK, 142 athletes competed in the event at Aldersley Leisure Village.

Ben, who has a developmental disorder called hypochondroplasia, a type of short-limbed dwarfism, was cheered on by his mum Vanessa, dad Neil and little brother Josh, two.

Proud Vanessa said: “It was a fantastic occasion in front of a great crowd. Ben has significant learning difficulties and he really enjoys playing sports to help him develop.

“We’re thrilled at how well he’s done but I don’t think he’s aware how good he is.

“He just loves the attention and playing with the other kids.”

Tor View headteacher Andy Squire also praised Ben’s stunning medal haul.

He said: “We are delighted with Ben's achievements. It just shows how much can be achieved by young people with disabilities when they are given the opportunity.”

One interested onlooker at the games was patron and Paralympic swimming champion Ellie Simmonds, who herself came through the dwarf sports system.

Ben hoped to make his mark on the 2013 World Dwarf games next August in East Lansing, Michigan, USA, but with another baby on the way for his mum, he will have to wait until 2017, where Australia looks the likely destination.