A 16-YEAR-OLD North-East schoolgirl has been selected to play netball for England.

Natasha Khatib, of Newcastle's Dame Allan's Girls' School, has been chosen to play with the England Talent Squad following trials in Loughborough and Sheffield. She will begin training with the squad in September.

Natasha started netball when she joined Dame Allan's at the age of eight, and has been playing for the Tyne and Wear county side since she was 12 and the North-East region for the past two years.

She said: "I am thrilled to be selected to play for England and I'm looking forward to getting back to playing after taking a break this term to concentrate on my GCSEs.

"I'm excited at the prospect of representing my country abroad. I have already played netball in Canada on the Dame Allan's sports tour, but playing for my country will be something very special."

PE teacher Jane Donald said: "She is a very talented and dedicated team member who definitely deserves this honour."