LIFEGUARD Anton Wouters has received an award for saving a swimmer during a race in Scarborough's North Bay.

Mr Wouters, 26, a borough council lifeguard, rescued a French swimmer when he got into difficulties while taking part in the European Sea Swim competition last September.

Now he has been given a Royal Lifesaving Society award presented by the Mayor, Councillor Sheila Kettlewell, who praised his bravery and skills. She said: "He responded brilliantly and did everything his training had prepared him for."

Mr Wouters said "It was a long distance race and the competitors were not allowed to wear wetsuits. They were pretty cold and lots of people had to be pulled out by boats."

He had been shadowing the Frenchman because he had submerged twice.

"The third time he stopped and submerged and didn't come up. I jumped out of the boat and pulled him to the shore. He was tired and freezing," he said.

"I have had to swim out to sea and rescue people on dinghies in the past, but this was my toughest rescue so far."