LOCAL swimmers, brother and sister Chris and Emily Surtees, from Hunwick, near Bishop Auckland, have just finished competing in the North-Eastern Counties age group competitions held over two consecutive weekends at Sheffield and Leeds.

Chris and Emily, who swim for Middlesbrough swimming club, returned with a total of nine medals and, on the final day at Leeds, both finished as individual champions.

Chris took part in seven events for 16-year-old boys and won seven medals, never finishing outside the top three.

He won gold in the 100m and 200m butterfly, 200m and 400m individual medley, silver in 50m freestyle and 200m breaststroke and bronze in the 100m breaststroke event.

Emily finished as 100m backstroke champion and took silver in the 200m backstroke event and was a finalist in the 200m and 400m individual medley and 100m breaststroke.

This week Chris flies to Darmstadt, Germany, with a North-East team for a four-day international competition.

On his return he is due to take part in the Olympic team trials for 100m butterfly to be held in Sheffield.

Both Chris and Emily have both qualified to compete in this year's English national age group competition at Coventry from August 7-12.