FIVE students from Ipswich are preparing to head to London after being selected to perform at the opening ceremony of the 2012 Paralympic Games.

The students from Suffolk New College will be performing a dance routine at the Games after impressing at auditions in London.

Sam Cracknell, Louise Parnell, Jason Watson, Kamal Mamedov and Leon Hamilton have all been chosen to perform.

Tom Hunt, a sport student, was also chosen but he will be unable to attend.

Trudy Sharman, sports co-ordinator at the college, said: “When I found out that they’d been chosen I was extremely proud.

“It will be a lot of hard work with the long hours, but I know that our students will work really hard and make the most of this unique opportunity.”

Leon, one of the students who will be performing, added: “Nearly 20,000 people applied, so I’m really glad I got through.

“It shows that you should just go for things, no matter what the odds are.”