A TRIATHLETE who hopes to compete at the Olympics has been given £1,500.

Douglas Roberts, from Northallerton, has been sponsored by Wilko to help cover the costs of training and equipment.

The donation is part of Wilko’s Local Stars initiative, which sponsors talented or inspirational individuals.

The 23-year-old won the silver medal at the Castle Triathlon Series in July and represented Great Britain at the 2013 World Aquathlon Championships.

He said: “I am incredibly grateful for the sponsorship and every penny will make a difference.

“Being able to buy the best tools will help my performance, which should hopefully give me an edge while I work my way up to the Olympics. I only hope I can do Northallerton proud.”

Matt Henry, local store manager, said: “It is always really inspiring to hear about the amazing talent we have in Northallerton.

“Douglas is a fantastic representative for our town and we hope the money goes a long way in helping him realise his Olympic dream.”