TALENTED teenager Beth Tweddle joins experienced campaigners Craig Heap, Ross Brewer and John Smethurst in England's gymnastics squad for the Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games.

Beth, who is just 17, was the first British woman to win a European gymnastics medal, when she took bronze on the asymmetric bars in Greece in April.

She entered the British Gymnastics Championship for the first time as a senior last year and came away from the event as all around champion. In May she received the Royal Variety Club's Potential of the Year award, which was presented to her by Prince Andrew.

The men's squad for Manchester 2002 includes three members of the team that won a gold in the team event at the Kuala Lumpur Games for years ago. They are Craig Heap, Ross Brewer and John Smethurst, who also won an individual bronze in the floor exercise.

The strong men's line-up also includes Kanukai Jackson, who was bronze medallist on the vault at the European Championships in Greece. He also qualified for five finals and finished fifth all-around in the recent Puerto Rico International Gymnastics Cup.

England's gymnasts won three gold medals, three silvers and three bronzes at Kuala Lumpur.

Ann Hogbin, Chef de Mission of Team England, said: "We have a strong and exciting gymnastics squad. I would like to welcome them to the growing Team England family and wish them an enjoyable and successful Commonwealth Games."

Gymnastics takes place at the G-MEX Centre in Manchester city centre. It begins on 26th July and concludes on 29th July.

Sport England has invested £3.5 million of lottery funding specifically to boost Team England's medal prospects at the Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games.