A TABLE-TENNIS player from Furness has joined Team England for the Commonwealth Games.

Emily Bolton, from Askam, has replaced the injured Mollie Patterson in the England squad for the Commonwealth Games.

The 24-year-old joins Tin-Tin Ho, Maria Tsaptsinos and Charlotte Bardsley in the women’s line-up for the event, which starts in Birmingham next week.

It follows Patterson’s withdrawal on medical advice because of a shoulder injury.

Bolton said: “I’ve always said the Commonwealth Games was my goal in table tennis and something I’d always wanted to achieve.

“It’s obviously unfortunate that Mollie can’t go and while I’m happy to be going to my first major multi-sport event, this isn’t the way I’d want to be going.

“I’ve known Tin-Tin and Maria for well over 10 years and Charlotte for a while as well, so I’d like to think I will slot in and hit the ground running.”

Team Leader Matt Stanforth said: “Emily has been training with the squad for a few days now and we’re doing all we can to help her prepare to give her best performance in Birmingham.”