PLUCKY Stourton teenager Imogen Westwood - who has battled through cancer treatment - took on a new challenge when she joined a four-day sailing adventure.

The 14-year-old, of Bridgnorth Road, was part of a crew with 25 other young people in recovery from the disease who went on the trip, organised by the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust.

She was on one of five yachts that sailed around the Solent on the south coast.

Imogen was diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma in February last year and had intensive chemotherapy at Birmingham Children's Hospital to tackle a tumour in her upper chest, followed by nine weeks of proton treatment in the US to shrink the growth further.

She said after her sailing voyage: "It has been a great week - you do so much and meet so many new people. It's fabulous."

The Trust - headed by Dame Ellen MacArthur who at 24 was the youngest person and fastest woman to sail around the world in 2001 - provides a chance for young people to test themselves, encouraging them to work as a team and get involved in everything from taking the helm to cooking.

Imogen said: "Being with the people on your boat and getting to know them so much over three days has been fantastic.

"Everyone gets on automatically - because we have all had cancer so we understand each other."

The trip set sail from East Cowes Marina on the Isle of Wight and stopovers included Yarmouth harbour and a barbecue in the picturesque bay of Newtow Creek, before putting the youngsters' new skills to the test cruising back into Cowes.

The aim of the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust is to give young people in recovery from cancer chance to rebuilt their confidence through sailing.

Dame Ellen said: "The mental and social fall-out from cancer can be just as devastating as the physical illness.

"Everything we do is about building confidence, self-esteem and having fun together."