We need you.

That’s the message from the founder of Essex’s first ladies Roller Derby team.

Emmeline Smith, of Church Street, Bocking, is the founder of The Triple Sword Roller Girls and she is after new recruits to take part in the new sports craze from the US.

Roller Derby is an exciting team sport for women. It is a contact sport played on roller skates with players skating around a track. There are two teams of five players and one point scorer (Jammer) on each team.

Mrs Smith said: “We are a group of strong, fun-loving young women brought together through Roller Derby. We’re a brand new team looking for like-minded girls that want to skate, have lots of fun and discover a bunch of new friends. The biggest team in the UK are the London Roller Girls and one day we want to be as big as them.”

During a game the team of girls skate around the track while the two Jammers from each team aim to make it through the pack of skaters and score a point for each opposing skater they pass. The skaters in the pack do their utmost to stop the opposing Jammer passing them and scoring points by blocking, while at the same time trying to help their own Jammer to get through the pack.

During games, the Triple Sword girls take on fun names, including Stig Martha and Smith-Erines, and they wear protective padding.

Mrs Smith, or Beater Von Tease, “We wear full pads and helmets as you do fall over a bit, and weekly training sessions are spent teaching each other basic skating skills as well as Derby essentials, such as how to fall safely. Don’t worry if you can’t skate, we teach each other and you take things forward at your own pace. The game is fast and full of adrenaline - once you see it you’ll be hooked. Plus, if there is a better and more fun way to lose weight and tone those legs, I certainly haven’t found it.”

A recruitment day, for over 18s, is being held at the Riverside leisure centre, Chelmsford, tomorrow from 12pm - 2pm.

Email tripleswordrollergirls@googlemail.com for more details or call 07782 208085.