POWERFUL and confident women have been chosen to be the face of a campaign which inspires women and girls to be more physically active.

The national This Girl Can campaign, developed by Sport England, aims to get more women and girls aged 14-40 regularly exercising or playing sport by conquering the primary barrier of fear of judgment.

It also works to encourage more confidence and enjoyment in sport, which is why the campaign has selected 10 ambassadors from around Essex, three of which are from Braintree and Witham.

This Girl Can has selected Vicky Littlefield, 35, from Witham, Anna Bambridge, 35, from Witham and Lana Redgewell, 19, from Braintree to spread the word and promote the cause.

Lana Redgewell is a student at Writtle University studying cycling performance and has competed regionally, nationally and internationally in BMX racing.

She said: “I started BMX Racing at the age of 14 and I’ve been lucky enough to compete in the 2012, 2014 and 2015 world championships.

“Becoming a BMX rider was never intentional; I was actually a ballet dancer from the age of four.

“My younger brother got into racing at the age of five and as he got older and more competitive he began racing at larger events around the country, which meant I had to tag along and watch.

“I came up with the great idea that if I’m going anyway I might as well race too.

“From that day I fell in love with the need to prove myself in a male-dominated sport as well as the thrill that came along with competing in an extreme sport.

“The campaign has not only inspired me as an athlete but in my job as a coach at the Olympic VeloPark.”

The campaign aims to be a celebration of active women everywhere and prove that whatever your size, ability or previous experience, sport can be a fun and enjoyable part of your life.

Anna Bambridge is a married mum-of-two and a self-employed curtain maker.

In her spare time she takes part in bootcamps and obstacle course racing.

She said: “I started my fitness journey nearly three years ago when my son was three months old.

“My husband and I had decided that two children were our limit so I decided that the baby weight needed to go.

“Through friends at a local baby group I found out about a buggy bootcamp session running in Rayne.

“At my free taster session I turned up with my two children strapped into their buggy, introduced myself and the session started.

“All was going smoothly until I had to do a press-up and face-planted the floor.

“One thing lead to another and three years on I have competed in many obstacle course races not only in this country but I also competed at the world championship in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA and the UK championships.

“I definitely have my ups and downs with exercise, it’s not always easy, but the downs make you stronger.”

Just over 60 per cent of females in Essex are not taking part in any sport, compared to 49.8 per cent of males in Essex, and there are 1.75 mil- lion fewer women that are active than men.

Vicky Littlefield is a personal assistant for Imagination Performing Arts and is mad about ballet.

She said: “I started dancing when I was four.

“I did tap, modern, ballet and jazz up until I was 12.

“School, college and work took priority over dancing until a friend recommended a local dancing school for my daughter, I took her along to her first ballet class in January 2014, which in turn introduced me to the adult classes.

“Since reigniting my love for ballet it has taken over the whole family lifestyle.

“I am now the PA to the principal of that school and both my children take tap, ballet and musical theatre classes there.

“I dance at every opportunity that I have, usually along to the radio in my kitchen when no-one else is watching, attend ballet classes every Wednesday evening and I have just joined some friends in a fit camp every week.

“My motto is I’m lapping everyone on the couch.”