BETTER known for selling flowers in the centre of Hexham, Jo Foster (pictured right) will become an international powerlifter later this year.

The florist has qualified for the British team which will go to Poland for the Global Powerlifting Committee European Championships in July.

To qualify, she needed to deadlift 130kg and she smashed that by lifting 155kg at the recent Scottish championships. She is aiming even higher in Poland.

She said: “I’ve always wanted to represent Great Britain and get that written on my tracksuit.

“I can’t wait and it’s going to be awesome. It’s something you would never expect to be able to do at 46 years old, but I think powerlifting is one of those sports that is inclusive to all no matter what age.

“I am planning to go for 165kg in my opener at the Europeans, so I’ve got two months of training to try and achieve that, although you never know how you are going to perform on the day.

“At the Scottish Championships, I asked for 160lg but they misheard me and put on 165kg, and I managed to get it to my knees before I lost my balance, so I’ve had a bit of experience of that weight!”

To help Jo reach Poland, she has a funding page at www.gofundme.com/nejckn-european-championships-fund.