Team Solent's Melanie Purkiss has been named in the Great Britain squad for the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Budapest next month (March 5-7).

The 24-year-old one-lap specialist from Otterbourne is one of six women called up for the 4x400 metres relay squad.

Purkiss has good relay pedigree having won Commonwealth Games silver for England in Manchester 2002. And with a season's best of 53.52 seconds behind her, she is hoping she will play at least some part in Britain's quest for gold.

She said: "Just to be part of the squad is great and hopefully I'll get a run in the heats. I shouldn't think I'd be picked for the final because we look to have quite a strong squad.

"I don't think my times indoors have done me much justice so far because I'm running better than that, but I can't complain because the 53.52 is faster than I did outdoors last season - and outdoors is supposed to be quicker because there are two bends instead of four."

She added: "It'll be nice to go back into training for the summer knowing I've had a taster of the Worlds."

Purkiss is joined in the GB squad by Commonwealth 1500m champion Michael East from Portsmouth, who swept to third on the UK all-time list with a 3.36.42 personal best at Friday's Norwich Union Grand Prix.