ONE of Britain's sporting superstars was at Chandler's Ford today to encourage more girls to get involved in sport.

Dame Kelly Holmes, the golden girl of the athletics track, spent most of the day at Toynbee School, Chandler's Ford, as part of the Norwich Union GirlsActive initiative.

Research has shown that girls are less active than boys and are more likely to drop out of sport at an early age.

The Olympic gold medal winner said: "It is a concern that research continuously shows that girls are more likely to drop out of sport than boys.

"I believe it is vital that school partnerships keep working with their pupils to develop strategies for getting more girls to participate in sports, both inside and outside of schools hours."

Dame Kelly said that it was important to deliver sporting activity designed specifically for girls to keep them interested.

She added: "We know more young people are taking part in more sport. But now is the time to up the ante, particularly in the run up to London 2012 so that sport and an active lifestyle become an integral part of the lives of all our young people."

Dame Kelly threw herself into some sporting activities at Toynbee, including an intensive boxercise session.

Later she took part in a question and answer session with pupils.