GREAT Britain cyclist Chris Newton achieved his ambition of gaining a gold medal at the track cycling world championships in Copenhagen.

Mr Newton, of Bishopsgarth, Stockton, had won bronze and silver medals at many international sporting events, including an Olympic bronze medal at Sydney, and set his sights on a gold at the recent Copenhagen contest.

The 28-year-old former Hall Garth School pupil is a member of the national team and began cycling as a youngster around Great Ayton and Stokesley.

In Copenhagen, he won gold in a four points race and was part of a four-man squad which won a bronze medal in a team pursuit race.

He led the men's 30km solo race, in which 24 competitors cycled 120 laps of the 250m track.

In addition to being delighted at his personal success, he was optimistic that the young British team would become stronger and achieve greater success at future events.

His gold was the third awarded to Britons at the event. Team member Chris Hoy won the men's kilometre time trial, while Craig MacLean and Jamie Staff succeeded in the team sprint.