A RHYL footballer who used to be homeless is set to jet off to Central America next month to represent Wales in the World Cup.

Lauren Jones, 20, will head to Mexico City with the Welsh Warriors women's team to take part in the 16th Homeless World Cup at in Mexico City.

The tournament, which will also see the all male Dragons squad compete, will take place in the city’s iconic Zocalo square from November, Tuesday 13 until Sunday 18 and will see more than 500 players representing 47 countries take part in a week-long festival of football.

Lauren said: “I am over the moon to have been picked for the tournament in Mexico - I have played football since I could walk.

"I played for Kinmel Bay and Rhyl, before going to a Street Football Wales football tournament at Eirias Park, Colwyn Bay in 2016 which sparked my interest even more.”

Since 2016, Lauren travels to Swansea every week to train as part of the Welsh Warriors female squad. The team is made up of players who face social exclusion through homelessness, substance misuse, mental ill health or cultural issues.

After months of hard work, Lauren was awarded Player of the Year, leading her to be chosen for the national Street Football Wales team earlier this year.

The former Blessed Edward Jones High Catholic school became homeless at 15, following a family disagreement, before being taken in by her grandmother and sleeping on the sofa. She eventually resolved her differences and is now back living with her mother in Rhyl.

Before crossing the Atlantic next month, Lauren - who is currently studying Public Services at Coleg Llandrillo’s Rhyl campus sand hopes to become a police officer - will be filmed for a BBC feature ath the college's Rhyl campus.