MALVERN'S Emma Witherford has secured a Great Britain freestyle kayaking squad place for August's European Championships in Slovakia.

She enjoyed a successful campaign of podium placements earlier this year.

Witherford has previously represented GB in freestyle kayaking at the World Cup as a junior when she won a bronze medal.

In the selection event, she secured a first and third place in the senior women's categories while also juggling university exam revision and her Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award at Buckingham Palace.

Witherford is now in France on the competition circuit getting herself sharp for the elite events ahead.

She is being supported by Malvern tech company Payara Services.