Top international cricketers visited a summer training camp aimed at developing the skills of young talented female players from Essex.

England Women’s captain Charlotte Edwards, team-mate Beth Morgan and England Women’s Cricketer of the year Lydia Greenway all called in to the Spirit of Cricket summer camp held at Loughton Cricket Club.

The two day camp, organised by Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), was aimed at helping expand the girl’s skills in bowling, batting and fielding.

Greenway said: “I’ve had a fantastic couple of days coaching the children from Loughton. All the young girls had a terrific time and they learnt some very important lessons about sportsmanship and fair play. I hope that we have inspired local girls to play more cricket.”

The summer skills camps, which have been running since 2005, have been created to help thousands of young cricketers gain essential skills required for the sport. This summer there are expected to be around 600 girls taking part in the camps.

MCC head of cricket, John Stephenson said: “The summer camp in Loughton presents a wonderful opportunity for girls of all abilities to learn how to play cricket in the right spirit, with the help of some of England’s female stars.

"The England Women’s team are currently ranked as the best side in the world – a feat that they have earned by playing hard, but fair cricket.”