A WOMAN who grew up in Salterforth helped England’s netball team win a Commonwealth Games gold.

Natalie Haythornthwaite, 25, played a key final quarter contribution from the bench to help England secure a dramatic 52-51 victory in the netball final against favourites Australia on the Gold Coast.

Natalie, who now lives in Barrowford, was in a state of shock after receiving her gold medal from Olympic heptathlon champion Denise Lewis.

She said: “I was so emotional up on that podium and I can’t believe I’ve got this gold medal, I don’t think I’m ever going to take it off.

“We’ve worked so hard for this and we never stopped believing. Australia are the best team in the world and we’ve just beaten them at their home Commonwealth Games, I’m just in shock. I couldn’t stop the tears on the podium.”