A STAR skier has reclaimed her crown as queen of the slopes.

After being named overall best female in the North-East Ski Association Championships two years ago, Sarah Howes, 17, has scooped the title again.

The A-level student, from West Rainton, County Durham, was introduced to skiing by her parents at the age of eight.

Since then, she has skied regularly at Silksworth Ski Slope in Sunderland, where she is a member of the Ravens Ski Club. She also has a training place with the England Alpine Ski Team and the British Ladies' Army Ski Team.

Her brother Simon, 15, is part of the England Ski Team.

Her latest win follows a fall in last year's championships, after which she needed 11 stitches.

She said: "I won my age group, which is under-19, and also the overall female competition. It was nice to reclaim my title."

Sarah will next compete in the British Alpine Championships in Austria over the New Year.