A YOUNG man from Carnforth is aiming to make a big splash in the world of competitive swimming.

And 12-year-old Thomas Young has certainly got off to a good start - with no fewer than five gold medals from the English national championships held at Pond's Forge in Sheffield.

Tom's best result was in the 50 metres butterfly in which he beat his personal best by four seconds and set a new national record for his age group in winning gold.

The disabled youngster wasn't satisfied with that, though.

Having won two silver medals and one bronze at a competition in Holland recently, the youngster who trains with able-bodied swimmers at the Carnforth Otters club, had achieved the qualifying time for eight events at Pond's Forge and set out to make the most of his big day.

He went on to scoop four more gold medals - in the 50 metres freestyle and backstroke, the 100 metres freestyle and the 100 metres individual medley.

Then, just for good measure, he picked up silvers in both the 200 metres individual medley and 100 metres backstroke.

And he completed a full set of medals with a bronze from the 50 metres breaststroke.

Talented Tom has now become a member of the North West's disability swim squad which trains at the Manchester Aquatics Centre once each fortnight.

And he will be back competing at Sheffield in a few week's time - when the Paralympic trials will be held at the Ponds Forge pool.