WYCOMBE District Swimming Club have this week sent 18 swimmers to the National Age, Youth and Open Water Championships - double the number they had at last year's event.

Just two years ago there were no swimmers from the Wycombe District who took part in the national event but a new coaching team has led to a turnaround in fortunes.

Olympic level coach Kevin Brooks took over as head coach in 2012 and has helped inspire some of the squad to national titles.

British Championship medalist Luke Thomas will be competing in the 200m butterfly, 1,500m freestyle and 400m individual medley, and the club has high hopes the 17-year-old will come back with another medal.

Members also have their fingers crossed 13-year-olds Josie Searle and James Eddy can win medals, with both swimmers ranked in the top eight nationally for their age group.

Brooks said: "It's brilliant to see the rise of Wycombe Swimming Club. The club has been on a massive journey and that journey of success and excitement is only going to continue to grow whilst we get closer and closer to the opening of the new 50m Olympic pool, right here in the district.

"This success is down to the dedication and hard work of the swimmers, commitment of our coaching team and continued support from our volunteer committee who have been fantastic."

Searle and Eddy are in the Age Group swimmers - the 11-14 age category - alongside individual swimmers Sophie Millin, Rachel Cox, Eleanor Meadows and Cameron Brooker and relay team members Millie Sansome, Danielle Kidd, Natasha Moss and Kate Lees.

Thomas is joined in the Youth Swimmers team of members aged 15 and above by Fiona Shaw, Liam Jones and Natasha Garry and the relay team of Matt Penning-Lambert, Daniel Manners, James Brindley and James Baxter.

The tournament, which is taking place at Ponds Forge in Sheffield, starts today and continues until Sunday, August 10.