A GROUP of Hyndburn athletes are heading for the sun for two weeks of warm weather training.

It is the third year Hyndburn Athletics Club have organised the trip to Villa Moura in Portugal.

"It is two weeks of solid training where the athletes will also have special rooms to revise for their GCSE exams. But there will be some fun in there!" said coach Don Lennon.

"There will be physios there and masseurs and all the facilities are fantastic for the athletes."

Among Hyndburn's big name athletes going are Leigh Lennon, Ashleigh Williams, Robbie Schofield and Maisie Bonney - all talented individuals who have been highlighted as possibilities for the 2012 London Olympics.

"It is a big year for all these athletes and it will be a tough summer for them so hopefully the training will help them a lot."

Not that Leigh needs much help. She is only 14 but competed in the North West Championships in Wigan in the Under 18 1000 metres. And she won it in a time of three minutes exactly, with a new personal best.

Meanwhile, it was the Lancashire County and Schools Combined Events Championship at Preston last weekend.

Heather Donald, competing for Hyndburn AC in the County competition and for Clitheroe Grammar School in the School competition, came second in the Under 20 women/ Senior Girls heptathlon.

She had solid performances throughout the seven events including a new personal best in the High Jump.