Meet the North East athletes representing England at next year's Commonwealth Games

Aly Dixon (left) and Sonia Samuels will both represent England at the Commonwealth Games. Credit: Jonathan Brady/PA Archive/PA Images

Four athletes from the North East have been selected for the Team England squad which will compete at the next Commonwealth Games.

Laura Weightman from Northumberland will compete in the 5,000 metres. She usually competes in the 1,500 metres event and tweeted that her selection was "an exciting new challenge".

Tyneside's Sarah McDonald will compete in the 1,500 metres. She tweeted that she was "so happy" with the news.

Sunderland's Sarah McDonald will compete in the 1,500 metres at the Commonwealth Games. Credit: Adam Davy/PA Wire/PA Images

Two others will compete in the marathon.

They are Wallsend-born Sonia Samuels and Sunderland's Alyson 'Aly' Dixon, who also competed at last year's Olympics and the 2014 Commonwealth Games, which she was unable to complete because of a calf injury.

  • Click below to watch Alyson Dixon give her reaction to ITV News Tyne Tees

The Commonwealth Games will take place on the Gold Coast, Australia, in April next year.