TWO young disabled swimmers have battled against all the odds to complete 44 lengths of the local swimming pool.

Oliver Hunt, 10, and Alex Hook, 11, suffer from cerebral palsy, an incurable disability caused by brain damage, often during birth.

But despite the condition, they attend a disabled swimming group at Darwen Leisure Centre, and recently completed their 1,000 metres swimming badge.

Next on the battling youngsters' list of challenges is to swim a mile for charity, likely to take two or three hours!

Jackie Hunt, Oliver's mum, from Cherry Tree, said: "Every Tuesday there is a disabled swimming group at the leisure centre. It's specifically a class for the disabled.

"The boys joined a couple of years ago and they have been working towards being able to swim ever since. With cerebral palsy neither of them can walk individually. They both walk with frames and we weren't sure they would ever be able to swim."

But the boys, Oliver, who goes to St Francis' School in Cherry Tree, and Alex, who attends St Thomas' in Blackburn, soon picked up the skill, and before long were swimming lengths of the pool.

Jackie said: "The swimming teacher, Cath Medd, has worked wonders with them. They did a length first, then they did two lengths and it grew to six. We never in our wildest dreams thought they would swim more than a couple of lengths. They use their arms and it's quite tough for them.

"To swim the 44 lengths took and hour and 20 minutes. I was amazed."

But not satisfied with pulling off one amazing feat, the boys are now planning to add an extra 500 metres onto their record, and swim a mile for charity!

Oliver said: "It took about an hour and 20 minutes to do, and it was very hard work. We're going to do a mile next for charity, and that will probably take about two hours.

"I'm looking forward to it but it will be hard work."

Heather Hook, Alex's mum, of Whitebirk, said: "Some able-bodied swimmers couldn't do what they've done, and there's only one or two in their class who have done it.

"They've mentioned doing the mile, and giving half the money to the disabled charity Scope and half of it to Cancer Research."

Now the boys have been praised by national cerebral palsy organisation Scope, for their hard work.

Simon Walsh, spokesman for the group, said: "Scope is delighted that Oliver and Alex are planning to swim a mile to raise money to help us in our aim of achieving equality for disabled people.

"Having cerebral palsy is not a barrier to enjoying and engaging in life to the full and we wish them all the best in their aquatic endeavours!"