THREE gifted athletes from Royston have been given grants from North Herts District Council (NHDC) to help their budding talent develop.

Fifteen-year-old Emma Reid, a judo player, 17-year-old Ben Jackson, a rower, and 18-year-old Florence Bird, a modern pentathlon competitor, all received �350 to go towards the cost of training, equipment and travel.

They were amongst 15 elite performers from North Hertfordshire to receive the money.

Emma, a pupil at Freman College, said: “I would like to say thanks to NHDC for granting me this money. It will help out with my travel to major events.

“I regularly travel to Birmingham and Sheffield to compete in national tournaments so this will help.”

The grants were awarded at a ceremony in Letchworth last Monday by NHDC officials and Sport North Herts chairman and former Greneway School head teacher Ken Charles. Athletes then had to make speeches to NHDC officials about how they are to spend the money.

Cllr Lynda Needham, leader of NHDC, said: “NHDC together with Sport North Herts is happy to be supporting the grants programme that gives dedicated sports athletes and coaches a real chance at succeeding.”

Ben Jackson is part of the 2016 Olympic training programme, while Florence Bird competes at a national level in modern pentathlon.