Kent hockey hot-shot Ashley Jackson will be hoping a good performance in the Beijing Olympics will be the perfect lead-up to his 21st birthday.

Jackson, 20, from West Malling, has been called up to the Great Britain squad preparing to challenge for gold at this year’s Games.

The Olympic hockey competition starts on August 10 and Jackson's birthday falls the week after the gold medal match.

He said: "After the squad was announced, we were given 10 days off and then the work really starts. We will be training together three or four days a week.

"It would be a nice birthday present to do well, but we will just have to wait and see."

The squad begin their build-up to the tournament at the start of July, with several days of training together each week.

They will continue the preparations until July 23 when they fly out to China to prepare for the competition.