HAMPSHIRE'S Paul Gibbs has finally achieved his aim in darts - but he has already set himself another tough target.

The arrows ace from Alresford has long yearned to toe the oche at Frimley Green's famous Lakeside Country Club. That dream will become a reality in the next few weeks, so he intends to go a step further and become world champion.

Gibbs is one of five Hampshire players who aim to be crowned champion of the world over the Christmas and new year period.

Three of them - Colin Monk, James Wade and Andy Jenkins - will take part in the Professional Darts Corporation event at Purfleet, while Gibbs and close friend Paul Hogan will be on stage in Surrey with the British Darts Organisation.

The occasion will be familiar to experienced Monk, Jenkins and Hogan. And even 23-year-old Wade has done it all before.

But for Gibbs, 36, it is something new. The bricklayer has only played in front of television cameras once - when he was runner-up in the English Open earlier this year.

Nevertheless his twin daughters, Sharni and Michaela, are looking forward to seeing their dad on television along with wife Ann-Marie.

Gibbs comes from a great darting background. His uncle, Pete Collins, is captain of the Isle of Wight and his grandfather was a regular in the famous News of the World competition.

"We used to sit down as a family and watch the Embassy and to actually be there is a dream come true," said Gibbs.

See today's Daily Echo for the full run-down on Hampshire's darts heroes taking on the world