A 10-year-old from a village near Evesham who only started having riding lessons in lockdown is now competing with a national racing team.

Hettie Neal will be showcasing her skills at the Moreton in Marsh Show this Saturday (September 2) with the Shetland Pony Grand National team.

The Shetland Pony Grand National are a team of young riders between eight to 14-years-old that have to be under 5ft tall to complete.

They travel the country racing at country and horse shows raising money for the Bob Champion Cancer Trust.

Hettie has raced at more than 10 races so far this year, including the game fair at Ragley Hall, Ashbourne, Ashwell and Denbigh show, on the pony Gaterley Lucky George.

Hannah Neal, Hettie's mum, said: "Hettie only started having riding lessons when the country went into Covid lockdowns, so this is a huge opportunity to have been selected to race with the team this season.

"The pony belongs to a friend and horse training Francesca Johnson at Johnson Sportshorses. "Hettie's very lucky to get the opportunity to have the ride on George this year.

"She races on one of the smallest ponies in the team and is one of the smallest jockeys on the circuit but still manages to get into the finals and hold her own against the bigger and older kids."

Each year the children go to a trials day at Keysoe International equestrian centre to gain a place in the team.

They have to race and show they are capable and that the ponies are safe around the children and other ponies.

All the children are trying to gain a place at London International Horse Show in December,