Olympic gold medallist Denise Lewis has added her name to the list of those growing increasingly concerned by the hefty Government cuts to school sport.

Lewis, who won heptathlon gold at Sydney 2000, has been joined by a host of past Olympians and Paralympians in stating their shock at the axing of the Government's £162 million investment in youth sport.

The cuts will abolish the 450 School Sport Partnerships - designed at raising levels of sports participation in schools in England - a move described as devastating by Youth Sport Trust chair Baroness Sue Campbell and Lewis agrees.

"From the very young at primary level, right through to those who are in their last years at school, we must do all we can to ensure young people get the very best opportunities to take part in sport at school," she said. 

"The School Sport Partnership network is a vitally important structure we have in place to deliver this and it is producing some fantastic results that must continue."

Jason Gardener and Darren Campbell, members of the 4x100m Olympic gold medal winning quartet at Athens 2004, are also School Sport ambassadors and have seen firsthand the benefit of investment.

"Over the last ten years we have seen such vast improvements in the standards of sport within our schools," said Gardener. 

"There's increased numbers of young people taking part in sport, more young people competing in sport, and more taking on leadership and volunteering roles. It is critical that there is funding that can continue to sustain this progress."

Campbell added: "I regularly visit schools and see the most talented children now getting the support they need to develop their skills to be future champions. 

"I see some of the most troubled teenagers having their lives transformed though sport, and I see the positive impact sport is having not just in PE but across the school curriculum.

"To cut funding now when such incredible results are being achieved is beyond belief."

More than the Games / Eurosport