EAST Lancashire squash star Laura Massaro has been named in England’s squad for this year’s Commonwealth Games in Australia.

The Chorley ace, currently British No.1, is part of a nine-strong party who will travel to the Gold Coast in April.

Massaro is currently in action in the National Championships in Manchester where she is defending champion and she will be joined Down Under in the England team by the likes of Sarah-Jane Perry and Nick Matthew and James Willstrop.

Massaro is a three-time Commonwealth Games silver medalist and a former World Champion who is ranked number four in the world.

She said: "It's such an honour to be selected to represent Team England at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and I’m really excited about heading to the Gold Coast.

“The Commonwealth Games for squash players is our biggest event and it's always great to meet fellow sportspeople and enjoy being a part of Team England. I'm hoping to turn my 2014 silver into 2018 gold."

In Glasgow four years ago, the Hoghton-based star was runner-up in the singles and also the doubles where she teamed up with Jenny Duncalf.

Massaro is expected to take part in the doubles again in Australia and possibly the mixed doubles.

At the National Championships yesterday, Massaro, who is aiming to win her fifth title, made a strong start to the defence of her title when she brushed aside Rachael Chadwick in straight games.

The 34-year-old, who has been in seven of the last 10 finals, won the title in 2011 and 2012 and again in 2016 and 2017.

She is aiming to become the first player to win a hat-trick of titles since Cassie Jackman achieved the feat between 2002 and 2004. And Massaro kicked off her quest in impressive fashion and she cruised to an 11-0, 11-4, 11-2 victory in just 20 minutes to set up a quarter-final clash with world No.14 Emily Whitlock.

The last eight tie takes place at 12noon today with the semi-finals tomorrow and the final on Sunday.

Victory for Massaro would see her player either England team-mate Duncalf or Tesni Evans - the Welsh number one who beat her in the World Championships in December.

Chorley’s Julian Tomlinson lost in the final round of qualifying in the men’s draw on Wednesday night, beaten 11-7, 11-4, 12-10 by Wales’ Emyr Evans - the younger brother of Tesni Evans.