PERSHORE club prospect Tazmin Pugh has been invited to join the England Talent Development Swimming Programme.

Her next step on the ladder in the sport came about after she fulfilled the criteria with excellent performances at the National Age Group Championships last month.

Pugh was eighth in the UK in the 100-metre butterfly and equal 10th in the 100m freestyle from 28 12-year-olds who made the tough qualifying standard from 3,500 national competitors.

Her age group is the youngest that can access the English talent camp, giving the delighted youngster the chance to train with some of the finest coaches and other talented swimmers.

She is looking forward to joining up with another national swimmer in Isobel Griffiths and training out of the City of Birmingham Swimming Club.