OLYMPIC Gold success for the Team GB Ladies' Hockey players has inspired a new generation of budding sports stars in Colchester.

Colchester Hockey Club has had a surge in enquiries to join it since last Friday when Great Britain's women defeated the world champions, the Netherlands.

The club, based at Colchester Garrison, has been running summer camps for youngsters on Thursday evenings and is now looking ahead to a busy start to the season in the autumn.

Chairman Andy Bryant said: "On the back of a successful summer camp for junior members and a sudden increase in interest, undoubtedly fuelled by the success of the GB team in Rio, Colchester Hockey is bracing itself for an unprecedented uptake in the sport.

"Not since the GB Men's success at the Seoul Olympics in 1988, have we witnessed such interest, in particular amongst women and youth players.

"The club has reported a 20 per cent upsurge in membership applications during the Rio Games, in tandem with the GB ladies' successful quest for Olympic Gold. This has come at a great time for the club with increased investment being made in youth development for the coming season and years ahead.

"Since the end of last season the club has qualified and recruited several coaches, in the belief that the youth membership is not only the future of the club, but of the sport itself."

He added: "Colchester Hockey Club aspires to produce its own Olympians for the future, beginning with a re-branding of its youth section this year as the Colchester Eagles."

The club, which has been running more more than 100 years, welcomes players of all ages and ability and will be running a Club Day on September 4 for adults looking to take up or make a return to the sport; with a Family Day on September 18 for all, aged five upwards.

For more information go to www.colchesterhc.org.uk