BLACKBURN skaters are set to take on the world next week after being chosen to represent Great Britain at the World Junior Championships in Holland.

Michelle Royds, 17, from Lammack, is one of four youngsters from the Blackburn Arena Skating School chosen to represent Great Britain at the championships in The Hague.

She said: "I'm 17 now and I've been skating here since I was six years old.

"I have been to an international in Poland, but to tackle the World Championships is what you dream about. I'm really excited."

Michelle, a former Witton High School pupil, is competing in the ice dance section with partner Jamie Whyte, from Cheshire. They will perform three programmes.

Michelle and Jamie finished runners-up in last year's British Championships in Sheffield, but have been selected ahead of the reigning champions for the prestigious World Juniors.

They have been skating together for seven months and are coached by Karen Barber, who heads the successful Blackburn School.

She said: "It's fantastic for the Arena to have four out of the six-strong British team. It will be a wonderful experience. We are really looking forward to it."

Joining Michelle and Jamie this weekend will be Hamish Gannan and Rebecca Collett, who are also based at the Arena where they are coached by Kathryn Hudson.

Hamish and Rebecca are the British pairs skating champions 2003 and will contest this category in Holland.

The Blackburn skaters will be joined by another duo from Swindon and will be competing over the next 10 days.