POOL is clearly thriving in the Kidderminster area as the town's ladies dominate the county scene.

Worcestershire's women's squad may play in Shrub Hill, Worcester, but around 10 of them live in Wyre Forest.

Half of those players are in the Red Man-based Scarlet Women team that competes in the Kidderminster and District Pool League.

But captain Tracy Fletcher, who along with Clare Devitt, Helen Johnson and Sarah Maddox has been for England trials, is keen to encourage more players to the county.

The county squad, who are doing well in a league of seven, used to play at the Severn Manor Hotel, Stourport, before it was hit by fire.

They even have a mother-and-daughter combination with Rebecca Owers and 16-year-old Kelly Crowther, while Maddox is due to marry next month.

Games are played on Sundays against Gloucestershire, Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire, Warwickshire, Oxfordshire and Herefordshire.

Fletcher, 30, said: "There are women out there who play and don't realise we exist. The standard is fairly high to a degree but it's also fairly low as well.

"Basically, if you can pick up a cue and pot a ball then you're in.

"We need 11 to play and have 12 or 13 registered players. A lot of them have children which can make it difficult for them to come along so we need more players to guarantee we always have the 11.

"Each person has to play four frames over the course of the day and we make a day of it."

Any females keen on joining the team and getting involved in pool can call Tracy on 01562 637710.