Five young basketball players impressed England scouts so much, they have been picked to play in the national under-14s team.

Aaliyah Samuels-Campbell, Alecia Mansell, Jade Guidolin-Duncan, Poppy Tame and Victoria Nkan were playing for their school, the Clapton Girls’ Academy, at a national tournament in Sheffield when they were talent spotted. They are now in an elite group of only 20 girls rated as the country’s best basketball players in their age group, and will attend an intensive week-long training camp this summer at the University of Worcester.

Coach Fionnuala Duhaney-Keown said: “We are immensely proud of these girls. There is no higher level of basketball that these girls could play at and this demonstrates our school’s commitment to an elite female sport.”