A TEENAGER from Tyldesley was bowled over when she was chosen to represent Lancashire playing Cricket for the county tour of the West Indies.

Lauren Aldred, aged 15, a pupil at Fred Longworth High School, has jetted off to Trinidad with a squad of 20 from Lancashire Cricket Club, where she will be playing eight games in Tobago, before returning home on Monday. The sport mad teenager (right) was chosen for the tour last year, after the cricket club spotted her playing a school tournament at Robin Park in Wigan.

She was unable to go due to commitments to her other passion -- playing football for Manchester United Under 16 Ladies Football Club.

Before setting off for the trip of a lifetime, Lauren, of Kirkfell Drive, had to raise £600 for her air fare and was helped to stump up the cash by proud PE teacher, Simon Rigby.

As well as leading fund raising events including penalty shoot outs, a school year 10 disco and fastest shot competitions, brave Mr Rigby also donated his body to the stocks where he was bombarded by students to raise money.

Lauren, who also plays hockey, tennis and is a member of the North England Morris Dancers, said: "I am very excited and feel proud to have been chosen. I am also a bit nervous, as I have never travelled so far away without my family before.

"My parents are proud but also a bit worried about me going half way round the world without them!"

Commenting on the club, she added: "We have a very strong team, but we don't know what the opposition is like. It will be great if we win, but we are also going for the experience and the chance to play with other teams." A TEENAGER from Tyldesley was bowled over when she was chosen to represent Lancashire playing cricket for the county tour of the West Indies. Picture by Paul Heyes