THERE can be no prouder grandparents than Loretta and Joe Walcott after their grandson, Theo, was this week picked for England's World Cup squad.

The 17-year-old was the shock inclusion in Sven-Goran Eriksson's provisional World Cup squad all without even starting a Premiership game for his club Arsenal.

He is one of the couple's 11 grandchildren and great-grandchildren and this week Mr and Mrs Walcott were over the proverbial moon.

The pair, from Queens Road, Carterton, have followed the young striker's progress from his humble beginnings with AFC Newbury.

Mr Walcott, chairman of West Oxfordshire District Council and a former mayor of Carterton, said: "My wife and I are delighted. We are his grandparents and we're very proud that he has been selected.

"The phone hasn't stopped ringing."

Mrs Walcott a Carterton town councillor added: "I'm very proud of him. He's a wonderful boy."

Theo grew up in Compton, just over the boundary between Oxfordshire and Berkshire, and began his footballing career in AFC Newbury.

Arsenal signed him from Southampton in January in a deal worth up to £12.5m.

Mr and Mrs Walcott are originally from Jamaica and have lived in Carterton for more than 30 years.

Theo is the great nephew of Sir Clyde Walcott, the great West Indian test cricketer.