LANCE Corporal Joe Levey certainly earned his stripes when he was called up into the Army's tennis development squad.

Nineteen-year-old Levey, from Hockley, was selected after making his mark at the Army Indoor lawn Tennis Championships at Aldershot.

Despite being a newcomer to the event, Levey proved himself to be a formidable player and reached the quarter finals before losing to Warrant Officer 2nd class Eric Simpson, who went on to win the tournament.

FULL STORY IN THURSDAY'S ECHO