TALENTED sisters Sophie and Amy Langridge have taken the first steps to tennis stardom by winning coveted places at a North Wales sports academy.

The 14-year-olds from Hard Lane - they are actually triplets, their brother, James doesn't play - have become familiar faces on the local junior tennis circuit, winning numerous tournaments since taking up the sport five years ago.

Proud mum, Janet told the Star: "Nobody else in the family has played the sport but when Sophie and Amy were pupils at Windlehurst Primary, a national tennis coach visited the school and said both girls had lightning quick wrist reflexes and eye-ball contact and they enjoyed the game so much that they decided to continue."

Sophie was the winner of their most recent tournament, the Lancashire Junior Championships in the 14-and-under age category, knocking Amy out in a tough semi-final en route. But despite the rivalry on court, the pair remain very close and both represented their country at the Junior Nationals in Nottingham earlier this year.

Currently pupils of Rainford High School, they have just won scholarships to join the Howell Sports Academy in Denbigh, which they will take up soon.

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