DOUBLES partners for Northumberland's badminton team, a dynamic duo have been crowned the county's most promising prospects.

Hexham's Charlotte Graham (10) and Ponteland Badminton Club member Tim Bodani (12) won the respective trophies after being named best U12 badminton players from Northumberland in an annual award from North Tyneside Council.

Charlotte and Tim both play for the county and Tyneside Sharks, and were picked by judges as the best of a rising crop of talented youngsters after remarkable years.

Tim has won one a Super Series singles round held at the state-of-the-art Tyneside Badminton Centre, and has tasted success in a bronze tournament as part of a doubles.

Charlotte's rise through the ranks has been rapid after she got interested in the sport while attending sessions held in Hexham's Wentworth Leisure Centre with her father David a year ago.

Progress was swift and she moved onto Tyneside, where she won October's Super Series at U11 level which she went on to win again.

Charlotte has starred in Badminton England events too with a silver and a bronze on the national stage, while she also claimed silvers in the mixed doubles and girls doubles at the Northumberland U13 County Championships.

Charlotte's father David said: "The award from North Tyneside Council was clarification they are doing really well, and also a culmination of everything they have achieved in the past year.

"The progress they have made is excellent, and they both work really hard and this is a reward for all their dedication.

"First and foremost, you want them to do physical exercise and to have fun and they are both getting that here.

"The coaching they get from Northumberland head coach Rob Wetherall is superb, and it is great to see a lot of very talented youngsters currently coming through."