Great Britain biathlete Hannah Hills will swap the murky waters of Salford Quays for the blue azure of Monaco’s Mediterranean when she competes in the World Championships next week.

The King’s student is part of a squad of six girls competing against the cream of the world’s young athletes in the under-16 world championships.

Hannah, aged 16, from Robin’s Close, Rainow, will complete a 1,000-metre run, followed by a 200-metre open sea swim, before finishing with another 1,000-metre run, in what is virtually a sprint for the combined event champions.

Hannah, who is studying Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics and Further Mathematics in the school’s sixth form, is ranked number two in Britain at her age group and is hoping for a top 10 finish in the world-wide event.

Hannah has completed only a handful of open water swims, one taking place in Salford Quays.

She said: "You really do have to keep your mouth closed as the water tastes of petrol, I hope the Mediterranean will just be salty."

After university, her long term aim is to represent Britain at the 2116 Olympics in the Modern Pentathlon, which combines running, swimming, show jumping, shooting and fencing.

She said modestly: "I’d like to say I was aiming for the London Olympics, but I haven’t even started fencing yet, so there is a lot for me to learn."