FIVE Bournemouth athletes have been selected to compete with the United Kingdom's elite at the School Games.

Jacob Peters, Danielle Broom, Jack Williams, Edward van Wingerden and Lucy Gadd are among 1,600 athletes set to strut their stuff across a range of events.

The four-day spectacle is due to take place at Loughborough University and Sheffield from Thursday until Sunday.

Poole-based Peters will represent England South in swimming.

The Poole Grammar School pupil is set to compete in the 100m butterfly, 4x100m freestyle, 200m butterfly, 4x100m medley team, 4x200m freestyle team and 4x100m freestyle team competitions.

The 15-year-old will race at the Ponds Forge pool in Sheffield.

Peters, who trains at Rossmore, said: “I’m so pleased. I had a great experience last year and can’t wait to compete with a different set of athletes from other clubs.”

Bournemouth-based Broom, 16, will hope to hurl England South West to victory in the discus.

Broom, who trains at Bournemouth Athletics Club, said: “I feel very determined and motivated and I want to show the rest of the country what I am made of.”

Wimborne-based Williams, 16, will travel with New Forest club-mate van Wingerden to represent England in volleyball.

Williams said: “To be able to attend such a brilliant event for the second time is very exciting.”

Van Wingerden added: “I am delighted to be representing England juniors at my last School Games.”

Twynham School pupil Gadd, 14, from Christchurch, will compete for England South in cycling.

Gadd, who trains at Bournemouth Cycling Centre, said: "I am very excited to be selected. As a first-year Youth A cyclist it's a fantastic opportunity to experience an event on such a huge scale."

By taking part in the School Games, local athletes will follow in the footsteps of some of those competing in Rio right now.

Gold medallist Adam Peaty and heptathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson both competed in the School Games on their path to the Olympics.

Whilst taking part in the School Games, the athletes will live in an Olympic-style village and gain insight into life at the highest level of competition.