FORMER youth and community worker Liz Norris has been appointed on to the board of England Boxing.

Mrs Norris is an integral member of Radcliffe Elite Amateur Boxing Club and also works as a social inclusion co-ordinator for GreaterSport.

The 40-year-old has set up Street Shakers and, along with Radcliffe Elite founder Ady Lewis, pioneered the boxing arm of Bury's I Will If You Will campaign, which promotes and funds opportunities for females to get into sport and get active.

Mrs Norris took up boxing at the age of 34 and started competing three years later under the guidance of Elite ABC coach Ady Lewis.

She retired from competition recently and is now a level one coach, while also working as a volunteer development officer at the club.

Casper Hobbs, chairman of England Boxing, said: "Liz is an outstanding candidate whose skills and experience will complement and enhance the existing competencies and capabilities of the board.

"She has a wealth of experience in boxing and using sport to engage with young people and I am confident she will be a great addition and make a significant contribution to the future development and success of grassroots boxing in England.”

Mrs Norris was recruited following an open process and is only the third woman to be appointed to the 12-person board of England Boxing.

The body is responsible for the Whole Sport Plan for boxing and receives funding from Sport England to grow and sustain participation and create opportunities and pathways for the most talented boxers to progress to the elite level.

It has more than 830 affiliated clubs and more than 13,000 members.

At the elite level, English boxers won all three of Team GB’s boxing medals at the 2016 Olympic Games and at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Team England came top of the boxing medal table with five golds, one silver medal and one bronze.