Two sisters who have set their sights on basketball stardom have received sponsorship from a local store to help them on their way.

Savannah and Parris Wilkinson of Edmonton Green, have lofty ambitions of playing basketball professionally and are hoping to get scholarships in America.

The pair has been rewarded £1,500 from homeware store Wilkinson as part of their Local Star initiative.

Savannah, 15, revealed how the money will come in handy for new kit and entering international competitions.

She said: “I’m incredibly grateful for the sponsorship from our local Wilko store and every penny will make a difference when it comes to paying for training and items of kit. Our basketball boots wear out really quickly because of the amount of training we do, so it’ll be nice to get a new pair each.”

The girls play for Haringey Angels and are both part of basketball academy at Barking Abbey School.

Parris, 16, is hoping to study sports physiotherapy on her scholarship in America.

She said: “Our family and friends are always so supportive but it’s comforting to know we’ve got the backing of a local business as well. I only hope we can make Edmonton Green proud on the court, whether it’s here in the UK or overseas.”

Edmonton Green store manager Lynne Harvey said: “It’s always really inspiring to hear about the amazing talent we have in Edmonton Green and the Local Stars Fund is our way of helping them on their journey, whether it’s volunteer work, sporting activities or nurturing their skills.

“Savannah and Parris are both fantastic representatives for our local area and we hope the sponsorship money goes a long way in helping them hone their skills. We hope to see them on TV as professional sports stars very soon.”