FORMER Olympic swimming trialist Elizabeth Short, 63, proved she's still a water baby by completing a gruelling swim challenge.

Mrs Short, of Boulsworth Crescent, Nelson, has completed 2,897 lengths of Pendle Wavelengths pool, Nelson, to finish the final stage of the annual Pendle in the Swim challenge.

The distance, 45 miles, is the equivalent of the Pendle Way footpath.

Mrs Short, who tried unsuccessfully to take part in the 1948 Olympics, left others in her wake, completing the watery challenge while everyone else taking part is only at half distance or less.

It took her just 32 sessions to manage the distance, and staff at the pool marked her achievement by presenting Mrs Short with a bouquet of flowers.

She said: "I wanted to complete it before Easter because it gets busier and you need space to do this.

"A couple of years ago some of my family walked the Pendle Way so I said I would swim it."

Mrs Short is a coach with Nelson Swimming Club and a vice-president of the Central Lancashire Swimming and Water Polo Association.

She swims three or four times a week to keep healthy.

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