Colchester's Paralympic swimming star Natalie Jones was in dreamland today after winning a gold medal in the pool in Athens.

And to cap a fantastic performance the 19-year-old, who swims with the Colchester Phoenix club, broke the world record on the way to her triumph in the 200 metre individual relay.

She clocked a time of three minutes 18.68 seconds to ease prerace favourite, and fellow Great Britain swimmer Nyree Lewis, into second place.

Jones, who has cerebral palsy, said: "It is so hard to believe. I knew that I could do it. I didn't know how well, but I knew I could do it.

"It is really unbelievable. I can't describe the feeling."

And Jones was not Colchester Phoenix's only success in the Paralympics pool yesterday as her teammate Fran Williamson picked up a bronze medal in the 100m freestyle event.

Meanwhile, on the water in Athens, West Mersea's Hannah Stodel was competing in the sailing events.

In the Sonar class Stodel, along with crew-mates John Robertson and Stephen Thomas, was lying in tenth place after a mixed day's sailing.

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