A RISING ice hockey star from Darwen has her sights set on an Olympic place and hopes to become one of the world's top defenders.

Lauren Halliwell, 16, of Huntington Drive, returned home this month after helping Great Britain win silver at the World Championships in South Africa.

The St Bede's pupil plays for Hull Ladies and is the only girl in the 16 and under Blackburn Eagles team.

And after her success with the British squad, she is keen to develop her talent and reach the top of her game.

Lauren said: "Fourteen is the minimum age for joining the British team and when I got in aged 14 I thought I'd achieved all my goals but now I know I really want to improve even more.

"I want to carry on playing and hopefully become one of the best defenders out there.

"If I try really hard with any luck I'll be on the Olympic team for 2010. There are Olympic camps held by the British Olympic Association, I attended one in February."

But despite her success ,determined Lauren is also concerned about blazing a trail for other young women interested in the male-dominated sport.

She said: "When I was 13 I was the first girl to be selected for Great Britain's school of excellence for under 14s, which I am very proud of because I feel like I'm making a path for girls to go forward in this sport.

"There is so much discrimination in ice hockey. I have experienced it in the past so I know it exists and it can be frustrating that you're trying so hard and you feel people are trying to hold you back. Other girls are probably experiencing this too and if I can make it a better for girls who want to go into this sport then I'm happy."

Lauren started playing ice hockey at the age of eight and discovered she not only had a flair for the game, but a real passion for the sport too.

But trips to Hull every week, travelling up and down the country to train with the British squad, and frequent trips abroad to play other countries, means the sport places a huge financial burden on the family.

But she recently secured £2,000 sponsorship from the Darwen-based Lloyd Charity Committee and the John Frederick Trust to help pay for trips and equipment.

Mum Gillian said the family were proud of their star player.

She said: "We're so proud of her. We go with her hen she travels around the country and all over the world so it's tiring, but we find it very enjoyable."