Pupils in Swaffham have been recognised for their sporting achievements by a former professional tennis player.

Tennis star Jade Windley, from Lincolnshire, presented pupils from The Nicholas Hamond Academy (TNHA), in Swaffham, with awards for their performance in a range sports over the past academic year.

The winners of the 52 sporting awards were chosen by the academy's PE staff led by head of PE Mark Lloyd.

Miss Windley's visit to the academy was part of her role as an athlete mentor for the Sky Sports Living for Sport Programme, an initiative open to UK and Ireland secondary schools. It uses sports stars to teach students about six top life skills athletes identified as enabling them to achieve success in sport, called the Six Keys to Success.

She also gave words of support and encouragement to students and told her journey to becoming a professional tennis player, including fulfilling her childhood dream of competing in The Championships at Wimbledon.

Miss Windley said: 'It was a pleasure to present the awards and be part of such a fantastic evening at TNHA, celebrating the inspiring sporting success of the students and teachers involved. Through the amazing Sky Sports Living for Sport programme, I was lucky enough not only to attend this awards evening but also to spend a day at TNHA late last year, where I ran a 'six keys to success' workshop with selected students.

'The brilliant PE staff also organised some fun tennis masterclass sessions which I ran in front of different year groups; this was a great way to reach out to lots of students and ensure that everyone was involved. I really hope to visit TNHA again in the future.'

Sports play a major part of life at the school where 58pc of pupils have participated in extra-curricular sporting activities this year.

Martin Booth, acting principal at the school said: 'I am proud that so many of our pupils are involved in sports and that our PE staff offer such a wide range of exciting opportunities to help pupils develop their talents and reach their full potential. On behalf of everyone at TNHA, I would like to say a huge thank you to Jade for her words of encouragement and for the time she has taken to help our pupils to be the best they can be.'