SWIMMERS from a Darlington college made a big splash at the national schools finals at Crystal Palace, returning with a bronze medal.

The Queen Elizabeth sixth form college team of Angie Winstanley-Smith, Jill Hunter, Ruth Fay and Stephanie Surtees finished a close third in the medley relay and also finished fifth in the freestyle relay.

The college is establishing a superb reputation for swimming, with the boys' medley relay team also winning a bronze medal in the senior boys' national swimming championships two years ago.

Julia Atkinson, head of PE at the college, said: "The team was a credit to the college and the town. They worked as a team throughout the weekend, supporting each other and showing great team spirit.

"They almost won, being only 0.5 seconds away from silver and 0.7 seconds away from gold."

Angie Winstanley-Smith said: "It was great - really exciting. Next year I hope we'll go on to take the gold and be national champions."

The team was sponsored by Acorn Dairy, GNER, Dunns and HSBC.