SWIMMER Denise Baker has struck gold at the British Transplant Games.

Multiple medal winner Denise, from Darlington, claimed first place in the women's 50 metres butterfly in her age group at the games in Loughborough.

She also collected bronze medals in the 50 and 100 metres freestyle to complete an impressive medal haul.

Denise, 44, who trains at the Dolphin Centre under coach Ray Walker, said: "I went down with ambitions but I was really pleased with what I got. You never know what the competition is going to be like because you've got no idea how everybody will perform."

Denise has now set her sights on the World Transplant Games in France next year and is trying to raise enough money to compete there.

She has won medals at the last three World Games, including a gold in Sydney, Australia, in 1997.

Denise took up swimming to help her lose weight after she received a kidney transplant in 1987.

She said: "What we're doing is proving to people you can become fit after falling ill and showing that carrying a donor card does do some good."