A teenage girl will be taking on her trainer in a wrestling match.

Lucy Garland has been training as a wrestler at the Ultimate British Wrestling (UBW) club in Hitchin since last year.

The 17-year-old from Stevenage became involved in the sport at the age of nine and next month will be taking on her 37-year-old trainer Paul Ashe in her first live match at North Hertfordshire College’s Hitchin Centre for the Arts on July 19.

The Year 12 student at The John Henry Newman School in Stevenage said: “I first became interested in wrestling after watching World Wrestling Entertainment and really enjoyed it.

“I saw women taking part and thought that I wanted to do the same so I joined UBW.

“At first it was scary because it is seen to be a man’s sport and when I joined I was the only female there. Then I got to know them all and it has made me who I am today. It’s giving me confidence and has made me want to be physically active.”

Lucy, who lives in Brighton Road, trains once a week and also goes to the gym three times a week to keep in shape.

When she first joined she was taught how to ‘bump’ and shown the basics of the sport, which involves grappling and pinning opponents to the floor.

Speaking ahead of her wrestling debut, Lucy added: “I am a little nervous because it’s going to be a live crowd but I’m also very excited by it.”