THERE is plenty of potential across the Tynedale area judging by the success enjoyed by local badminton players.

Youngsters from the district and Ponteland have been victorious at national, as well as county level, during a purple patch for badminton in the area.

Ponteland High School pupil Rachel Brogan, of Darras Hall, brought home many medals from the latest Badminton England U15 Tournament, bringing home two bronze medals from the girls' singles and doubles competitions.

Closer to home, the 13-year-old Ponteland Badminton Club member earned gold at the Northumberland U16 Championships in the mixed doubles, and was runner-up in the girls' singles.

Fellow Ponteland player Lucy Dodd is impressing and, along with Hexham youngster Charlotte Graham, was part of the Northumberland and Durham mixed U13 team which competed against teams from across the country in the recent Anglo-Scottish Tournament.

While the North-Eastern counties weren't able to gain victories over the top counties, they did achieve a 10-5 success over South Scotland's Borders team, who they lost to last year.

Lucy particularly excelled for Northumberland, putting in some excellent performances in the singles and doubles.

Exciting prospect Charlotte starred as first string for the team, and completed some impressive wins alongside Westerhope's Amy Ward in the doubles and scored some good wins against the number one girls from Cumbria and Borders.

She said: "I feel as though a lot of progress has been made in one year. I'm also proud of the whole squad for how much they've all improved over a short period of time.

"We're all working hard to improve, and we're now seeing the results of this work and from the coaching we're receiving in the Futures group from Northumberland coach Rob Wetherell and his team."