Shropshire’s Gemma Howell announced her return to form by winning a bronze medal in a high quality Junior A judo tournament in France.

The teenager, who turns 18 next month and is in her last year at Adams Grammar School in Newport, had not performed to her usual standards in the British Open recently.

But she was right on her game in Lyon last weekend, coming through the repechage to claim a deserved medal in the under-57kgs section for the GB team.

Gemma, who is coached by Bill Kelly at Wolverhampton Judo Club, got off to a flying start, beating Romanian Alexandra Viciu by ippon in her first fight.

But her hopes of winning gold were ended in a tight second contest against Hannah Bruck of Germany, who went on to take second place.

Gemma put that setback behind her though, beating Austrian Julia Paul and Ekaterina Valkova of Russia to set up a bronze medal match with another German, Johanna Klimasara.

And this time it was the Shropshire ace who came out on top, winning one of just two bronze medals for the 15-strong GB squad.

Another Shropshire ace, Kelly Edwards of Telford, had also been selected to represent GB in the under-48kgs section.

But illness forced her to withdraw from the competition before the start.

The other GB success was provided by Ashley Flemming, who won bronze in the over-78kgs division.