A TEAM of three boxers from a County Durham village have been hailed as “the golden girls” after returning from an international event with three gold medals.

The team was representing Brandon Boxing Club, based in Brandon, near Durham, at the box cup The Golden Girl in Borås, Sweden, the biggest female boxing competition in Europe.

Ten-year-old Grace Kenny, Frankie Lyall, 21, and England boxer Megan Bainbridge all returned with gold medals after winning their respective categories.

Alex Oliver, head coach at the club, praised all three boxers for their hard work.

He said: “Three gold medals in three days for the Brandon girls – what an achievement!

“The whole area is extremely proud. We finished fifth in the medal tables behind nations like Thailand, Norway and France.”

Grace won three skills bouts, overcoming a German girl in her semi final and an Irish opponent in the diploma class final.

Meanwhile Miss Lyall won her semi-final bout against another English athlete before bearing a Canadian in the final.

Megan won gold at the tournament for the second time after beating another German.