A YOUNG netballer from Wirral has been chosen to compete in the national School Games.

Harriet Jones, from Spital, will be part of the Manchester Thunder squad in the multi-sport event at Loughborough University, taking place from August 30 to September 2.

The 13-year-old, a student at the Wirral Grammar School for Girls, is a member of the Oldham Netball Club.

She already has an impressive record of success having been selected for Manchester Thunder's under 15 squad at the age of 12.

More than 1,400 athletes will compete across 11 sports at the School Games, five of which include disability disciplines.

This year's games will feature four new sports; canoeing and rowing, laser run, netball and triathlon.

The event will give many young people, across a variety of different sports, an experience of high-level competition in a multi-sport environment similar to an Olympic or Paralympic Games.

Harriet will be following in the footsteps of some of Britain’s biggest sporting stars who have competed at the event before going on to senior international success.

Previous competitors include Paralympic champions Hannah Cockroft, Ellie Simmonds and Jonnie Peacock, Olympic champion Adam Peaty, heptathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson and sprinter Adam Gemili.

At the event, Harriet will experience the excitement of competing at the highest level.

She will live in a dedicated athletes' village on the Loughborough University campus, take part in an School Games ceremony and perform in front of huge crowds of spectators.

Ali Oliver, chief executive of the Youth Sport Trust, said: "The School Games National Finals provide a great opportunity for talented young athletes like Harriet.

"Competitors get a real taste of what it's like to be part of a world-class sporting event at the amazing sporting venues of Loughborough University, and the event is a great way to see our future sporting champions in action today."

The 2018 School Games is supported by National Lottery funding from Sport England and Home Country Sports Councils and is delivered by the Youth Sport Trust.

Tickets for the event are available now from https://www.schoolgamesfinals.org/buy-tickets/