A SHIPTON Bellinger schoolgirl is taking on her "biggest challenge yet" to raise money for Wiltshire Air Ambulance.

Venetia Smith will be taking part in the annual Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race over the Easter weekend with her race partner Ariana Watling.

The pair, who are both 16, are pupils at Dauntsey's School near Devizes.

Venetia said: "I'm very excited to be taking part and although I've competed in a number of sports, this is my biggest challenge yet. We chose Wiltshire Air Ambulance as it's local to Dauntsey's and it does an amazing job, funded entirely by charitable donations.

"When time is of the essence, they can make the difference between life and death. Already this year they have attended well over 200 incidents and at a cost of almost £9,000 a day to keep them flying, all donations are vital."

One of seven two-person Dauntsey's crews, Venetia and Ariana have been undergoing rigorous canoeing technique and fitness training since the start of this year under the guidance of Dauntsey's head of adventure education Sam Moore.

Neither of the pair had ever been in a canoe prior to taking up the challenge.

The Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race, which is now in its 69th year, starts on Good Friday.

Along with around 10,000 other contestants, Venetia and Ariana will paddle along the Kennet and Avon Canal before switching to the River Thames at Reading and finally finishing on Easter Monday outside the Houses of Parliament.

To donate go to justgiving.com/fundraising/dauntseys-dw-2017