It may be a long way from the Fylde Coast to the chilly Italian Alps but two daredevil brothers have revealed how they took their first steps towards Winter Olympic glory at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

Millions of viewers will cheer on Karl and Lee Johnston as they hurtle down the bobsleigh track at speeds of up to 90 miles per hour over the next two weekends in two-man and four man events.

Lee, 33, who is the driver for both teams and Karl, 27, who has secured his place in the four man event, have been tipped as an outside bet for medal glory in Turin - but their mother has revealed how summers on Blackpool Pleasure Beach put them on track to glory.

"Lee was always sporty," said mother, Helen, who brought the children on regular visits to Blackpool from their home in Whitby: "The more dangerous the better.

"If it frightened his mother to death he would do it. As kids they loved Blackpool for the white-knuckle rides." But bobsleigh beats the thrill rides of Blackpool hands down, according to Lee: "I fell upon bobsleigh by chance really but it is just the ultimate rollercoaster ride.

"We travel at speeds of up to 90 mph, four inches from the floor - and while a rollercoaster only lasts between 20 and 40 seconds, the average bobsleigh track is over 50 seconds long."

The Pleasure Beach, which has its own winter sports-themed ride, the Avalanche, has pledged to welcome the pair back should they choose to return to Blackpool.

Another daredevil with Fylde Coast connections is Kristian Bromley, tipped as Britain's top medal hope and ranked number four in the world in the Skeleton Bob.

He previously worked for BAE Systems in Warton and took up the sport, which involves going down an ice course head-first, after being challenged to design a sled for the event.