A GROUP of talented athletes from Pendle have been given grants to help them on the road to sporting success.

The Mayor of Pendle, Coun Smith Benson, presented 10 local athletes with £250, plus a 12-month pass to use at all Pendle Leisure Trust’s facilities and classes.

There were a total of 21 applicants and from those, the 10 were chosen.

They included Sadie Mitchell, 12, who plays football for Burnley and Lancashire under-14s, and 18-year-old Bethany Widdup, an alpine skier.

Every year, Pendle Leisure Trust seeks young, talented athletes who could qualify for support with training and competition costs.

They must be aged 12 to 18, live in Pendle and have represented the county in their sport.

Clive Escreet, Pendle Leisure Trust’s sports development manager, said: “Through the creation of the talented athletes fund, young sportsmen and women will be helped and encouraged to compete in regional, national and even international competitions.”