Goalkeeper Helen Smith is barely 5ft in her stocking feet, but she'll be walking 10ft tall when she plays in an international sporting competition.

She is one of 7,000 athletes from 162 countries taking part in a Special Olympics World Games being held in Dublin in June.

Helen, 43, from Shildon, has been training hard with other members of the Great Britain squad.

Last week she was given some tips by Darlington goalie Andy Collett during a visit to the club organised by caretaker manager Mick Tait.

Helen, who has learning difficulties and attends the Oaks centre, at Newton Aycliffe, has been a football fan as long as she can remember and used to go to home games at Shildon with her late father, Basil.

She keeps fit by swimming and exercising at Aycliffe Leisure Centre, where staff have given her a personal training schedule.

Four other County Durham sportspeople are in the Northern Regional squad for the games - footballers David Bewick, from Stanley, Paul Kerwin, from Spennymoor, Billy Amos, from Bishop Auckland, and Susan Hakin, from Crook.

John Burnip, chairman of sports and leisure at County Durham Care, said: "We are proud of them all."

Helen's mother, Dorothy, said: "I am so proud of her."