Dearham long distance runner Ricky Lightfoot is targeting silverware with Great Britain at the World Long Distance Mountain Running Championships in Slovenia next Saturday.

The 31-year-old has been called up to the five-man squad which will race in Podbrdo, where he has previously run for England.

He will travel on Thursday morning before running the fast, hilly course, which climbs 2,800 metres through forest and open mountains, two days later.

He said: "In anybody's sport, to represent your country is probably the proudest achievement so to be selected again is amazing, just to get to that point without even competing.

"I'm looking forward to running with a strong team. I certainly go into the race hoping to win and it would be disappointing not to come away with a medal at least.

"I've done this course before but I didn't have a very good run because I was just returning from an injury in 2011.

"It's good to know I more or less know the course and it's one that suits me."

Lightfoot will not train much next week to stay sharp for the event but said he already feels in good shape.

He said: "Every training period you go through spells of feeling good and improving and getting knocked back a little bit but I feel as if I'm running really well and I've improved on last year."