FIVE members from a West Essex roller skating club have been selected to represent Britain in a multi-national competition which will be filmed on TV.

The skaters from Waltham Abbey-based London and Essex Artistic Roller Skating Club were chosen by the Federation of Artistic Roller Skaters to take part in the contest held in Italy where they not only competed against the Italians but also skaters from Portugal and Slovenia.

Eleanor Phillips, Michael Handley, Abbe Fisher, Sophie Child, and Gemma Louise Dias were among the 29 skaters representing Great Britain who all made the trip to Pieris, near Trieste, on behalf of the Essex club and their efforts will be shown on BBC programme Skate Nation on July 18.

The skaters were required to dance compulsory solo and original set patterns during the contest.

Gemma Louise Dias finished tenth in the senior class, over-18s, while Abbie Fisher and Sophie Child came in 12th and 14th place respectively in the junior class for competitors aged between 16 and 17, Michael Handley achieved a 15th place finish in the youth class for 14 and 15-year-old skators, and Eleanor Phillips was 17th in the cadets class for participants aged between 12 and 13.

London and Essex Artistic Roller Skating Club is always on the lookout for new members.

The club meets on Saturdays from 10.30am to 11.30am at Waltham Abbey Sports Centre in Broomstackhall Road.

If you are interested call 01992 716194