Lane said: "Our team in Beijing have been fabulous but if we’re to challenge hard for the very top in four years time we need to identify new athletes now.

 

"There is still time in some sports”.
 
He urged disabled people around the UK to log onto www.parasport.org.uk to see if they have what it takes.

 

Lane said: “Parasport is all about putting disabled people in touch with sport for enjoyment and competition and, who knows, some of them may end up on the podium in London”.
 
Meanwhile, the 2008 team was celebrating their remarkable achievements.  

 

Their 102-medal tally, including 42 gold, 29 silver and 31 bronze medals, put Britain second only to hosts, China, and above the United States and Australia, on the medal table to far outstrip pre-Games aspirations of a top three finish.   

 

It also bettered Britain's 2004 total of 94 medals, including 35 gold.
 
Lane said: “I think by anyone’s standards our performance has been impressive."
 
Darren Kenny, a track cyclist, was the team’s most-celebrated individual in China, winning four golds and a silver.  

 

Swimmer Dave Roberts now has 11 Paralympic golds after adding four more to his Athens and Sydney achievements.  

 

Flamboyant equestrian rider Lee Pearson took his individual tally to nine golds after adding three more from his sport’s events in China which were held in Hong Kong.
 
Meanwhile, swimmer Eleanor Simmonds stole hearts as Britain's  youngest team member, aged just 13, who took two golds in some emotional scenes at Beijing’s awesome Water Cube.

 

She became Britain's youngest individual event Paralympic champion of all-time.
  
Lane said: “For a 13 year-old to have won two golds is fabulous.

 

Lane said: "Many of our champions have defended titles, too, and there are a whole range of people who have stepped up and won gold medals”.

With 1,441 days to go today to the London 2012 Paralympic Games, which will take place from August 29 until September 9, individual sports and athletes will soon be returning to training and competition with London in their sights.
 
Some 58 per cent of the 206 British Paralympians in China were first-timers, and the performances of younger competitors at the 2008 Games point towards continuing success in 2012.

Lane said: “Many of our young people in the squad have achieved personal bests and season’s bests.

 

"This has been a great experience for them and will stand them in good stead for the future.
 
“We hope that we’ve made people proud of our Paralympians and willing to help us repeat our success in four years time.

 

"Anyone interested in backing the team should visit our website to see some powerful images of the team in action and, perhaps, be moved to support us."