A TEAM of netball players and their friends will be taking to the water later this summer in aid of a local hospice.

Members of the Malvern-based Halo netball team will be taking part in Worcester’s annual charity dragon boat race event to raise money for St Richard’s Hospice.

Organised by Worcester Dragon Boat Racing Club, the event will take place on Sunday, July 1, on the River Severn.

Now in its 25th year, it sees up to 30 teams enter each year to compete for open, women’s, mixed and under-18 trophies, raising thousands of pounds for charities.

Halo member Collette Carpenter said: “We are really excited about taking part in this challenge.

"Although none of us has any dragon boat experience, we are confident that it will be a fun - and hopefully dry - day.

"We’ve never done any fundraising as a team before but we are all up for a challenge. The majority of the team have had some connection with St Richard’s which is why we decided to show our support and give something back to this wonderful resource.”

The team is made up of Clare Newman. Collette Carpenter, Zoe Martin, Lisa Clayton, Wuzy Scott, Kerry Barry, Shelley Waldie, Sue Thurgood, Sarah Layton, Samantha Hill, Laura Woodyatt, Lydia Davis, Sian Cousins, Liz Gleeson, Penny Brearley and Jayne Pritchard.

To sponsor the team, visit justgiving.com/Collette-Carpenter5.