Three girls from Dartford and Northfleet have been chosen for the British team travelling to Japan for the World Judo Championships next month.

They and the British Judo Performance Institute have been training in at the Dartford Judo Club in Cotton Lane ahead of the championships which take place in Tokyo from September 9-13.

Margaret Hicks, British Judo performance director, said: "We’ve built a good base here in Dartford and are receiving fantastic support from the town’s council and the club.

"The event in Japan is over five days and our aim is to get as many of our team as possible into the final set of fights, playing for a medal.

"We are quietly building confidence with the players, getting them to realise they can take on the world’s best.

"Our main task is the London 2012 Olympics. Japan is part of the process building towards that."

The three girls hailing from Dartford and Northfleet are Kelly Edwards, 19, of Phoenix Park, Northfleet; Scarlett Woolcock, 20, of Bow Arrow Lane, Dartford and Gemma Howell, 20, (pictured) who until recently lived in Cugley Road, Dartford.

Woolcock, a student at North West Kent College, said: "I’ve been to Japan before for training but I’m nervous and excited at the same time."

Howell said: "It’s my first World Championship. I feel honoured to be going to Japan. I’d love to win a medal and hope the training pays off."

Edwards, from Northfleet, said: "If everything comes together on the day, I’m sure we’ll be in with a shout."

Five others members of the 21-strong team, Faith Pitman, Megan Fletcher, Gemma Gibbons, Ashley McKenzie and Colin Oates also train primarily in Dartford.