TEENAGE ice hockey star Natalie Arthur is set to become the youngest ever female player to represent Great Britain.

The 14-year-old from Darwen has impressed selectors with a string of top displays for her two club sides the Altrincham Tomahawks and the Altrincham Jets.

And now she has earned a call up to the full British squad for a tournament featuring Italy, South Africa and Hungary in Budapest in two weeks time.

"It's a fantastic achievement to get into the squad at such a young age," said her proud dad, Jim.

"We'd only just returned from a tour of Canada, where she played 15 games, when we found out she'd been selected.

"There are two other teenagers in the squad but she must be the youngest ever."

Natalie, who is a pupil at Darwen Moorland High School, first got involved in the sport at Blackburn Ice Arena five years ago where she was greatly influenced by ex-Hawks star Steve Moria.

Since then, she has switched to Altrincham where she trains twice a week under the watchful eye of top coach Paul Bayliss and plays for the club's under 14s and under 16s sides.

"She has to be very dedicated," said Jim.

"It's a 50 mile round trip every time she trains and she can only train on Friday and Saturday nights between 11pm and 1am because that's the only time the they can get on the ice.

"My social life is non existent because of all the travelling but it's certainly worth it now she has got into the Great Britain team."

Natalie will link up with the squad for three days of intensive training in Milton Keynes before travelling to Budapest for the tournament on March 15.

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