A CONISTON-born army training instructor has ranked in the top five in the UK at CrossFit.

Sgt Charlotte Spence, of the Royal Army Physical Training Corps (RAPTC), had such success in the CrossFit Games European Open 2016 that she is now ranked 99th in the world, 16th in Europe, fifth in the UK, and is now the top military female.

She grew up at The Garth in Coniston, and went to John Ruskin School and moved away after joining the army.

Sgt Spence, an exercise rehabilitation instructor at Army Training Centre Pirbright, in Surrey, has been training Crossfit and Olympic lifting since transferring into the RAPTC in 2014. Since then she has competed at various events with her recent successes including fourth at the British Championships, sixth at the Athlete Games now 16th in the European Open.

This achievement qualifies Sgt Spence to compete at the Meridian Regionals taking place in Madrid this month, which will see her compete against the top 30 athletes from Europe and top 10 athletes from Africa.

Proud mum Sarah Ibbetson, of Windermere, said: "It's absolutely fantastic. She was always really good at things like this because at school she used to do fell racing, but it was joining the army that really sparked an interest in fitness."

CrossFit is a strength and conditioning programme that combines aerobic and body weight exercises.