A Bristol basketball player has won a scholarship to study and play in the United States next year.

Richard Loftman, pictured right, will progress from Filton College to Chadron State College in Nebraska.

Richard, 18, plays for the Big Tall Order Bristol Academy Flyers and Filton College Basketball Academy. Next year, his opponents will be from places such as Wyoming State University and the University of South Dakota.

Richard, from Milton Keynes, has spent two years at the Filton College Basketball Academy studying a BTEC National diploma in sport and exercise science.

Danny James, director of basketball at Filton, said: "We are extremely proud of Richard's achievements in his two years in the basketball academy; he has been a role model student on the court and in the classroom.

"His maturity and discipline have enabled Richard to achieve his dream which he thoroughly deserves. He has not only worked hard to improve as an individual but has also positively affected the lives of other young players with his work within our development centre and community schools projects."