SHOWING sporting prowess beyond her years Neston High School student Laura Holmes has secured a place in the Road to Wimbledon national finals next month.

Twelve-year-old Laura will join 40 other children from across the UK to play a series of singles, doubles and mixed doubles competitions on the immaculately-kept Wimbledon lawns.

Last weekend she won the Cheshire Road to Wimbledon challenge for under 14s – beating the number one seed in the final.

Her prize was a mini Wimbledon plate trophy. But her talents suggests that one day she could hold aloft the real thing.

Despite her tender years Laura already competes against adult tennis players at three clubs – Ellesmere Port, Hooton and Hoylake.

Dad Tom Holmes said: “This is an amazing opportunity for Laura to show off her talent against some of the best under 14 players in the country.

“Her ambition has always been to play at Wimbledon and hopefully get a scholarship in the United States to play tennis.”

Tom, a plasterer, disclosed that his daughter first had taken up a tennis racquet at the aged of eight and had made remarkable progress in the game since then.

She trains with nationally qualified coach Monica Robinson at the Ellesmere Port club.

Her tennis success has not detracted from the academic studies.

Tom said: “Laura has a very laid-back approach to things. She is progressing very well at school – we were quite shocked about how well she is doing.”