A talented young alpine skier who worked full time at a bakers this Summer to raise dough to fund her Winter season has landed a sponsorship deal.

Walkers Bakers in Skipton were so impressed with Bethany Widdup that they have agreed to become her new backers.

Eighteen-year-old Widdup, from Colne, a member of the 2013-14 England Alpine Ski Team, will be sporting the Walkers Bakers and Chocolatiers logo on her ski helmet, as she competes in slalom, giant slalom and super G competitions this winter.

Bethany, who won the 2012 British Indoor Ski Championships, narrowly failed to defend her title in Manchester last month, finishing second overall by just 0.26 seconds.

However, she did win her age group to become the British Indoor under-21 champion.

A former pupil of Clitheroe Grammar School, who first discovered the ski bug while on a family holiday, Bethany is now a member of the Ambition Race Academy and recently returned from its training base at Leogang in Austria, where she has been busy honing her skills on the Kitztienhorn glacier.

After just ten days at home, Bethany has now flown out to Hemsedal in Norway for a further three weeks’ training, ahead of the forthcoming ski season, when she will compete in races across Europe.

Bethany has already received financial support through Pendle Leisure Trust’s Talented Young Athlete Scheme and the Lancashire Rising Star Fund, designed to help young sports people excel in their chosen sport.

Walkers Bakers and Chocolatiers has now stepped in as her principal sponsor, and rising star Bethany, who has second and third places in British and English slalom and grand slalom championship races under her belt, said: “I am extremely grateful to past and present sponsors for their generous support.

“It has really helped to set me up well for the forthcoming winter season. There is no official financial support in place, which is why I work full time in the summer to help pay for everything.

“Every little bit helps and my ultimate ambition is to quality for the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea.”

Robert Walker, who owns and runs Walkers Bakers and Chocolatiers, and is himself a keen skier, said: “Beth grafted really hard for us this summer and soon became a popular member of our team.

“She’s an extremely gifted skier and we wish her well this winter.”