A TALENTED roller-skater has shared her story on the incredible challenge she attempted.

Like many people across the country, the onset of lockdown in March last year left dental nurse Mollie Jane Cooke, from Clayton-le-Moors, in need of a new hobby.

With normal venues closed and in need of regular exercise, roller-skating turned out to be a perfect outlet with Ms Cooke taking up the sport just as a global challenge was beginning.

She said: "I have been roller-skating for over a year now, I got my skates at the start of the first lockdown and fell in love with it."

Shortly after discovering her new found talent, Ms Cooke came across the 365 Days of Skating challenge.

The challenge was started by online skating influencer MyelinMoxi, who has encouraged skaters all across the world to put their skills and dedication to the test by getting out skating every day of the year.

After having honed her skating skills throughout the first lockdown, Ms Cooke began her challenge on June 10 2020.

She said: "It's like a competition essentially, where you take part and people can follow what you do online, and I ended up making so many friends online through doing it, it was really good!"

The Accrington skater stayed the course for six months, however her she had to call a halt to her plans when injury intervened.

Ms Cooke said: "I broke my leg in January trying to snow board on one of our skate boards, I over came the leg break by crocheting my own toe guards for my skates!

"When I was eventually healed I got back to skating and shortly after fell when not wearing my protective gear and broke my scaphoid on my right hand!

"I had to find something creative to do so I started left hand doodling which kept me occupied."

Ms Cooke's involvement in the challenge has left her love of skating intact however, she has also said that she now appreciates the importance of skating safely and while she would encourage anyone to take up the sport, she hopes that they will take this on board.

She said: "I’m now finally almost fully healed and wanted to share my story to remind new skaters now important it is to wear protective gear when skating.

"I now just skate as and when I can and would encourage everyone to go at their own pace."