Freeman was part of the GB team at the Beijing Paralympics

Great Britain women's wheelchair basketball coach Garry Peel has named five teenagers in the squad for next month's European Championships.

The team includes 14-year-old Maddie Thompson from Derbyshire, who made her debut at the BT Paralympic World Cup in Manchester in May.

Also named are Frances Ray (15), Laurie Williams (17), Judith Hamer (18) and Beijing Paralympian Helen Freeman (19).

The tournament runs from 27-30 August at Stoke Mandeville.

The team features only six of the squad who played in Beijing - Freeman, Caroline Matthews, Helen Turner, Clare Strange, Louise Sugden and Caroline McLean.

The only newcomer is Julia Smith from Birmingham.

Peel is using the event as a key part of the build-up for next year's World Championships and the 2012 Paralympics as the team aim to match the bronze they won at the last Europeans in 2007.

"Development is the focus this year and next and it is important for players to gain experience at international level as we look towards 2012," he said.

"Even though we have a new young team, they are confident they will do well and are looking forward to competing against the best teams in Europe."

The event features seven teams with GB in pool two alongside the Netherlands, Turkey and Italy while in pool one France take on defending champions Germany and Spain.

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