SOUTHEND High School for Girls pupil Eleanor Butt was part of the East of England under-13 girls basketball team that won a national tournament on Sunday.

The 12-year-old Southend Swifts player helped the East win all of their games in the qualifying rounds on Saturday.

The team returned the following day and got through their semi-final to set up a final clash with the North West.

The East struggled to live with their opponents in the first half but they recovered well in the second half and by the third quarter they had started to build up a healthy advantage.

The final quarter saw Eleanor and her team-mates show their superior fitness as they ran away with the game and completed a 60-40 victory.

Eleanor said: “It was an amazing experience and great fun.”