RISING star Charlotte Bardsley is celebrating her invitation to train with the England Youth Development squad by helping her local Kidderminster league club acquire some badly-needed new equipment.

The 12-year-old Heathfield School pupil has won five national tournaments so far this year – and has decided to donate her prize money to Cookley Table Tennis Club, where the coaches and players have helped her rapid development in the sport.

The money will help buy new nets and other equipment.

Cookley’s coach Mark Bennett said: “I think it’s a fantastic gesture from a young girl who is destined to go far in this sport.”

Charlotte has impressed coaches at all levels with her determination and dedication to the sport. She is already in the national top ten in the under 13 age group and could well rise further towards the top spot once her recent results are factored into the rankings.

Her quick counter-attacking style of play and never-say-die attitude has often surprised older and more experienced rivals.

Charlotte is becoming one of the top under-15 players in England and has been invited to train with the England Youth Development team at Lilleshall.

She hopes to continue her good form in upcoming competitions, including the Butterfly National Schools finals in April, where more than 300 players will converge at the Doncaster Dome in the largest one-day event in the table tennis calendar.

l Players are looking forward to the end-of-season cup competitions, which begin tonight with the junior events at Cookley Village Hall and veterans, mixed and ladies at Aggborough.