SHE only donned the gloves less than five years ago - and is now all set to fight for England.

Kirsty Hill, Acomb born and bred, is to take part in a Tri-Nations boxing match against Scotland and Wales in Rotherham this weekend, after coming through England Amateur Boxing Association trials.

Having first taken up the sport to keep fit while at Teesside University in Middlesbrough, Hill, 23, a former pupil at Oaklands School, then joined Grimsby Boxing Club, having moved to Cleethorpes to take up a role as a school’s sport enrichment officer.

Since then, she has become North East champion in the women’s 54-kilogramme class, and she had her first training session with England in Tamworth last weekend, ahead of this weekend’s tournament.

Proud mum Michelle said: “She only got the phone call last week that she had been picked for England and she trained with the squad last weekend.

“She took up boxing for fitness while at uni and really enjoyed it, and it went from there.”

Hill, who played football for Poppleton juniors throughout her school days, has always been sporty, but mum Michelle admitted watching boxing is a bit different to most sports - when she can bear to look.

“You don’t expect your daughter to be in a boxing ring,” she laughed.

“Watching her first fight was awful but I think you get used to it, and I love going and supporting her.”