ENGLISH was Karen Southworth's worst subject at school, but now she is on the verge of becoming the UK's top wordsmith.

The 33-year-old, from Blackstone Road, Chorley, won through to the last 32 of the National Wordsmith Challenge and is hoping to go one better than last year when she reached the final 16.

Mother-of-one Karen was put down a class in English when she was at school, which makes it all the more extraordinary that she has become a word expert.

To prepare for this year's competition Karen has recruited the help of husband Paul and son Luke, five. She said: "Luke is just learning to read and write so we have been helping each other.

"As I was in the finals last year I won a copy of the game used in the challenge, Double Quick, so it has helped give me a slight advantage over the contestants entering for the first time."

On Sunday she will travel to Oxford for the weekend to take part in the finals, hoping to scoop the first prize of £5,000. Contestants are given 22 letter tiles and have to make words of three, four, five or six letters against the clock.

Karen, who has worked as a mortgage administrator for Mal Associates in Preston for 12 years, has admitted to some last-minute jitters. She said: "It's quite nerve-wracking. I am actually quite nervous about the competition this year, as there is a lot at stake. We are moving house soon so the £5,000 prize money would be a great help."

The game is the brainchild of Winning Moves International (WMI) which recently launched the new Lancashire edition of Monopoly, and is jointly sponsored by Oxford English Dictionaries

Tom Liddell, managing director of WMI, said: "Karen is a leading contender for the top prize. We are delighted to learn her English has improved so much.

The competition, and the final will take place at the group's headquarters.

As well as the cash prize, the winner will receive a silver platter and a case of leather-bound Oxford English Dictionaries, presented by Susie Dent of television's Countdown fame.