THE World Cup has kicked off and Warrington South MP Helen Southworth has been given the inside track on the preparations.

Mrs Southworth met with Sven Goran Eriksson and other Football Association officials in London before the team flew out to Germany.

The meeting included head of FA security John Evans who was formerly the chief constable of Devon and Cornwall.

The MP was involved in her role as a member of the influential Culture Media and Sport Select Committee.

Later this month, the committee will be holding an inquiry into women's football.

This comes after Hannah Dale, a Great Sankey schoolgirl and football champion, raised the issue with the MP.

She has always played for a boys team but after her 11th birthday was told she would have to play for an all-girls side.