BMX biker Shaun Calvert has a wheely good reason for celebrating after being selected for the Great Britain BMX squad for the European and World Championships.

The 40-year-old, from Dalmore Road, Ingol is the UK's number one racer in the over-30s category and was delighted at his call-up.

He said: "It's been a great few weeks for me following my win in a championship in Somerset, where I defeated all the leading European and world bikers.

"Being selected to represent your country is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I've been riding for nearly 15 years now, so it just goes to show if you keep persevering then you'll get your rewards.

Shaun will be competing for the European Championships title in Vallet, France, in July, before moving on to BMX's World Cup held in the Netherlands next year.

By day Shaun works as a forklift truck operator for Tyco Plastics at Walton Summit, but still finds time to maintain his gruelling training schedule.

"I cycle to work every day covering around 16 miles as well as training every Wednesday night and competing most weekends.

"It's a pretty full-on regime but I suppose the international call-up makes it all worthwhile, although I doubt my wife Sarah totally agrees!" he said.

With hundreds of trophies and titles under his belt, Shaun isn't contemplating retirement just yet and reckons he could continue for another decade or so.

He adds: "As long as I stay fit and focused and keep enjoying it, there's no reason why I can't carry on well in to my 50s.

"There's plenty of 50 plus guys still competing at a high standard."