One of Heswall's most famous sons has been appointed a UK trade ambassador to Australia.

Ian Botham, Lord Botham, or Baron Botham of Ravensworth, is one of ten parliamentarians given new roles as trade envoys, taking the total number of peers and MPs performing unpaid trade ambassador roles to 36.

Trade Secretary Liz Truss welcomed the appointment on twitter, saying Lord Botham would "bat for business down under", and help British businesses take advantage of the free trade deal agreed in outline with Australia earlier this year.

Ian Botham was a strong supporter of Brexit and received a peerage in the honours list of last summer. He is obviously well known in Australia - not least for the spectacular role he played in thrashing the Aussie team during the 1981 Ashes tour - a feat which included a remarkable, last ditch 149 not out at Headingley.

He was named Man of the Series after scoring 399 runs, taking 34 wickets and holding 12 catches.

Ian was born in Heswall in 1955, the son of Herbert Leslie "Les" Botham and Violet Marie, whose maiden name was Collett. His father had been in the Fleet Air Arm for twenty years spanning World War Two; his mother was a nurse. The family moved to Yeovil before Botham's third birthday after his father got a job at Westland Helicopters as a test engineer.

Liz Truss commented: "By boosting exports, promoting inward investment and creating high-value, high-paying jobs, our trade envoys will help us build back better from COVID-19, ensuring every part of the UK benefits from our trade strategy."

Australia's High Commissioner to the UK, George Brandis, said Lord Botham's appointment was "marvellous news" and the country "looks forward to welcoming Lord Botham down under."

However, some observers here in the UK were left stumped by the appointment.

Shadow First Secretary of State Angela Rayner observed: "Tory hypocrisy latest: England footballer Marcus Rashford should stick to football and not get involved in politics when he tries to make sure kids don't go hungry.

"But former England cricketer Ian Botham should get involved in politics and is appointed a government trade envoy."

While Ellesmere Port and Neston Labour MP Justin Madders wrote: "Hope we don't get Shane Warne as an ambassador as some kind of revenge."