A teenager is competing nationally after a school trip inspired her to take up skiing.

Hedingham School student Amber Gladin, 14, is now racing against the best in the UK.

She took to the slopes during a school skiing trip to Italy two years ago and fell in love with the sport.

As soon as she returned from her trip, Amber went to Ipswich dry ski slope and started lessons.

She then joined two Hertfordshire clubs, one in Hemel Hempstead and one in Welwyn Garden City, and trains every Monday.

Amber is now in a national schools squad for ski racers after performing well during a competition in Leeds on Monday.

Her ambition is to take part in the World Cup, which is held every year for the best skiers from all over the world.

She said: “I just loved the sport from the first minute I was on the slopes in Italy and I knew I didn’t want to stop when I came home.”

On top of her World Cup goals, Amber is also aiming to be a Winter Olympian.

She plans to join a larger ski team to get more coaching and advice and is already building her fitness training.

Since Amber started training, her two sisters now take part in the sport too. Violet, who is just seven, recently won a silver medal in a national competition.

Older sister Lorna, 15, won a gold and silver in the Special Olympics.