FORMER England cricketer Caroline Atkins handed out some tips to some of the sport's aspiring hopefuls on a visit to Minehead Middle School this week. Caroline, an assistant coach for the England U19 Women's Development Programme and women and girls head coach for Somerset, spent a day with year seven and eight girls, some of whom already play for the school. She was in Minehead as part of Somerset Cricket Board's 'Chance to Shine' campaign aimed at bringing cricket back to state schools. The initiative originally set out to reintroduce competitive cricket and its educational benefits to a third of state schools - 6,750 - and two million children by 2015. But the target was reached ahead of schedule and the campaign will now continue beyond 2015. Caroline, a batting all rounder who has represented Sussex since the age of 11, made her international debut in 2001 and the following year became the first woman to graduate from Durham University's centre of cricketing excellence. She shared her expertise and knowledge with the sport's enthusiasts in Minehead. The school already has a great track record for cricket and several past pupils currently play for Somerset, including Jordan Baker (U15s) and Archie Marsh (U14s). Zoey Cape is currently playing for Somerset Senior Ladies and year seven pupil Holly Ambler has recently been selected to play for the U13s South Somerset district team. Photo: Rebecca Overton