AMY Davies has taken cross country by storm and is now preparing for her biggest test yet.

The 12-year-old from Blackburn has beaten all before her at town and county level and this weekend she will represent Lancashire in the England Counties in Nottingham.

And the following weekend, Amy will compete in the Inter Counties Cross Country Championships in Birmingham.

It will be the St Bede's pupil's first taste of competing on the national stage but if her current run of form is anything to go by, it will be the first of many.

For since September, Amy, who is a member of Blackburn Harriers, has been virtually unbeatable.

She was crowned Blackburn and Darwen Schools Year 8/9 champion at Witton Park then completed the 'double' by winning the county title as well.

Amy also won the under 13s Lancashire Cross Country Championship title and finished in second place in the Northern Cross Country finals.

Competing for Blackburn Harriers, the talented long distance runner was crowned Mid Lancs Cross Country League Under 13s champion and did likewise in the Red Rose Cross Country League.

She has been a member of Blackburn Harriers since she was eight-years-old and despite being a lot shorter than most of her rivals when it comes to winning titles, she is head and shoulders above the rest.

"When you see her on the starting line-up, she looks so much smaller than the rest of the other competitors but she is a brilliant runner and we are extremely proud of her," said mum Lindsay.

"She loves running the longer distances and doesn't mind getting a bit muddy. She really has taken cross country by storm after winning both the Blackburn schools and Lancashire finals," said mum Lindsay.

Ahead of the trip to Nottingham, Lindsay says it will be more about experience than winning medals - but don't rule her daughter out of being in the mix.

"This will be the first time Amy has competed in a national final so we have had a chat about it and she knows that it is more about the experience of racing at this level," added Lindsay. "But she will be going all out to do her best.

"Her coach says that is she finishes in the top 20, that would be a fantastic result so we will have to wait and see."

Amy's success is no surprise given the fact that she comes from a sporty family.

Dad Christopher is a talented marathon runner, her older brother Lucas, 15, competes in the shot put and javelin while seven-year-old sister Hannah is a sprinter. Lindsay also took up cross country and competed in the National Cross Country Championships at the weekend.

"I only took up running myself so I wasn't left at home on my own!" added Lindsay.