Fantastic five to represent UK in world cheerleading finals

The girls who are Hayley Gill, Molly Townsend and Hannah Skyner (all 12), 13-year-old Morgan Allen and Beth Midgley, who is 14, will compete with the junior UK team at the International Federation of Cheerleaders' world championships in Japan in November.

The five all attend Clarets Cheerleading in Burnley and head coach and owner Sophie Boyle has been asked to help coach the UK team. And at 22 she will be one of the youngest coaches.

She said: "We are absolutely thrilled and honoured and so proud to be given this opportunity to compete at world level in Japan and the girls for their country.

"It's like a dream come true and is such an amazing feeling knowing that a cheerleading club from Burnley are training our boys are girls to a high standard and are being given these amazing opportunities.

" It really shows how much cheerleading is growing as a sport and the girls are great role models for our other athletes at the club and anyone else wanting to take up the sport."

Most of the girls have competed at European level and they are set to begin training in Macclesfield after the summer holidays where they will hone their skills with cheerleaders from across the country to form Team UK.

Fund raising has also begun as it costs £1,000 for each child and Sophie is also appealing for sponsorship for the team.

Anyone who would like to sponsor the girls is asked to contact Sophie on 07805398720.