THE search is on for a top-notch junior netball team to represent Worcester in the forthcoming Worcestershire Games.

Former Welsh university player Becky Giles, who recently joined the city council's sports development team as community sports coach, is spearheading the search for Worcester's netball stars of the future.

But the first rung of the selection process, she says, is the Worcester City Junior Netball League running for 10 weeks every Saturday from April 30, culminating with a tournament on July 9.

There was a good response to an earlier call for would-be netball stars with more than 40 players signing-up for a programme of training sessions and friendlies.

But Giles is now on the look-out for more girls and boys in years four, five and six to play high fives league netball, as well as girls in years seven and eight and intermediates in years nine and 10.

League games take place on Saturdays at Christopher Whitehead High School star-ting at 10am. Years seven and eight play 12-1.30pm and intermediates 2-3.30pm.

Registration costs £10 and forms -- currently being mailed to existing players and available from Giles on 01905-722331 or e-mail to rgiles@cityofworcester.gov.uk -- must be back by April 3.

"Netball seems to have lost some of its popularity in Worcester over recent years and that's the very issue I'm aiming to address," said 23-year-old Giles, who recently graduated from university in Cardiff with a degree in Sport and PE.

Still an active player -- turning out as goal attack for Worcestershire -- she is also a trained umpire, key player in the England netball young volunteer programme in the summer, and was last year selected to be part of the Worcestershire Active Sport and England netball scholarship scheme.

Her immediate priority is to boost netball in Worcester at primary school level and by setting up an intermediate league with the aim of coaching boys and girls aged 6-15 all the way to national level.

A talent camp where England 'spotters' will be on the look-out for the stars of the future is also being lined-up for the summer.