A SALE father and son have become the Italian and Czech Republican champions of a world famous role-playing game.

Peter Scott, 43, and a scout leader for 14th Sale, ruthlessly beat off more than 35 opponents to become Italian National Champion of Dungeons and Dragons miniatures, a chess-like derivative of the popular fantasy game, twice in a row.

Meanwhile son David, 15, won the competition in the Czech Republic and triumphed over 28 opponents to net his title.

The popular Dungeons and Dragons has been described as a great way for groups of friends to indulge their passion for fantasy using a framework of rules and a storyteller.

David, who is a pupil at Sale Grammar School, said: " Some of my mates have a laugh in a good-hearted way about it, but my view is that all kids play video games, but Dungeons and Dragons minis is about interacting with others which makes it more interesting and more sociable than playing on your own in your bedroom."

Peter, who lives on Princes Road, is now co-organising a gaming event, called Game '08, at the Armitage Centre in Fallowfield on November 1 and 2 when people from across the world will join families and schools to play a huge variety of games including everything from role-playing to the latest video and board games and, of course, the Dungeons and Dragons miniatures tournaments.

Peter, who is married to Jenny and also has a daughter, Natalie, 11, has always been into games and it runs in the family.

His father, John, 77, who lives in Didsbury, was an eminent chess player and will be at Game'08 demonstrating his prowess.

He was champion of Macclesfield Chess Club aged 15 and when he went to Manchester University to study medical research he was picked for the university chess team and the following year was the college champion. At his best, John played up to four other chess players blindfolded and beat them all. He's a professor of biochemistry at MU.

Peter firmly believes the game can enhance a child's education, improve their attention span and build literacy and confidence. He said: "All of that helps with the family bonding process. Research has shown that 92 per cent of parents will play a board game with their children at Christmas, but many don't have the time while they're working. You can tell a lot about a child by the way they play a game. It's also a lot cheaper than going to the cinema. Game playing helps build bridges across cultures and communities."

Peter's Game '08 co-organiser Nigel Scarfe, who lives in Barnsley, is working on a project which takes games into schools. He works with special needs children and has been sent letters from grateful parents of children with dyslexia and autism whose symptoms have been remarkably improved by playing games regularly.

The event is still on the look-out for sponsorship and is appealing to any businesses and organisations who would like to support it, or take part and have a presence to contact enquiries@gamecon.co.uk.

A daily family ticket costs just £17 with an adult daily ticket, £7 and a child at £4 while under-eights, who are accompanied by an adult, get in free. Group and scout discounts are available. Anyone wishing to book tickets should check out the website www.gamecon.co.uk