FOUR members of Southend Swifts Basketball Club will fly to Europe this summer - but for them it will not be a time for sun and sand.

The quartet will compete in the European Championships as England and Great Britain strive to put themselves on the basketball map ahead of the 2012 London Olympics.

Emma Camp will compete for the Great Britain under 20 team in Druskininkai in Lithuania, where their initial pool puts them against Portugal, Holland, Switzerland as well as the host country.

Camp, a former pupil at St Martin School in Brentwood, is currently studying at Belmont Abbey College in North Carolina.

The other three Swifts venture to Chieti in Italy, for the under 16 Championships, where they start their campaign against Bulgaria, Holland and Ireland.

Rebecca Brough is at Greensward College in Hockley and was the Swifts under 16 who completed an outstanding season, winning 23 of 25 games.

Jennie Rodgers studies at Great Baddow High School and was the most valuable player in Swifts' national championship victory in 2006.

She has two years at this level, being born in 1992.

Younger still is 14 year old Christina Gaskin, who is also a pupil at Greensward College.

She captained Swifts under 14 team who suffered just one defeat in the past season.

Swifts Chairman Paul May said: "We are hugely honoured with the achievements of our players. Emma Camp has earned her place in the Great Britain under 20 team against huge competition, particularly from other players studying in the United States.

"For the three girls in the 1991 squad, this is a wonderful recognition for them and the club as a whole.

"We also have five players training with the 1992 England development squad, so we look forward to further international selections."