NETTING cash and jetting to Europe to scoop a prestigious sports prize made for a very special Christmas for a talented youngster from Heysham.

Shana Allen, 15, is currently the British Tae-Kwon-Do champion, having fought her way to the title for three consecutive years.

The Heysham High School pupil, who has collected medals at competitions across Britain and Europe, added to her collection when she scooped fourth place in an international competition in Germany just before Christmas.

But her dedication to the hobby is costing her parents £12,000 per year and as a result Shana has had to miss a couple of competitions due to a cash shortfall.

She was able to go to Germany thanks to a £600 handout from the George Fox Educational Charity.

Now Shana, who only took up TaeKwon-Do four years ago, is hoping to be selected to represent her country in the junior world championships and commonwealth champion-ships in 2006 - as she works towards her ultimate goal of the 2012 Olympics in London.

Says mum Bernie: " We are really proud of her. She is extremely focused and dedicated to her sport to the point where she foregoes most of her social life to train and compete, but we are finding now struggling to finance her talent.

"If we had not got the money from the educational trust then Shana probably would not have been able to go to the competition as it would have been too costly around Christmas."

The proud mum goes on: "She has the potential to go far and would love to compete in the 2012 Olympics. We are hoping someone will help us in our quest for sponsorship to help her reach her goal because we are struggling to put money aside for competitions in April, which the GB squad insists she attends."

Bernie says Shana's coach Stephen Jennings, a member of the GB TaeKwon-Do squad, is more than confident' she will fulfil her dream.

And trustee Stephen Wright, of the George Fox School Education Charity, says: "Shana was selected because of the outstanding form she has shown this year. She has won countless competitions and been crowned British champion for the third consecutive year.

"On top of this she has picked up medals in other international competitions and has been in the ring with some of the best fighters in Europe. If she is to end up where we think she will, she needs to be competing at these championships."