NETBALL ace Anna Newell was jumping for joy this week when she moved a step nearer to fulfilling her Australian dream.

The captain of the under-16 England netball team has been selected for a tour of Australia this summer.

Anna, from Rishton, will be going Down Under on July 10 for a three week whistle stop tour, competing against school teams across the country.

"It will be hard work for her," said dad Robert, "the competition will be tough but she's looking forward to it."

Anna, a St. Augustine's High School, Billington, pupil, who plays in wing defence, will face trials for the under-18 team when she returns in August.

There is no stopping Anna though - even before the trip she is taking part in a sponsored swim in Nottingham on 28 May to help raise money for the tour.

Although the England Netball team will pay for the trip, donations for Anna have been flooding in. Rishton Working Men's Club have presented her with £100, along with support from the Dunkenhalgh Hotel, Clayton-Le-Moors.

The Knights of St Columba also presented her with a cheque for £50.

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