WATERFOOT'S Kristan Bromley has become the first Briton to be crowned World Champion after winning gold at the Bob Skeleton World Cham-pionships in Altenberg, Germany.

His victory also means Bromley - nicknamed Dr Ice - becomes the first athlete in the history of the sport to win all three major titles in bob skeleton during one season.

This hat-trick of titles comprises of the World Championship win yester-day, his second career World Cup win a fortnight ago and a third career European Championship title earned a month ago.

Bromley is now one of the favourites to win a gold medal at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver in 2010. Since 1980 only five British gold medals have been won at the winter Olympics.

Bromley attributes much of his success this season to the development of a new sled, part of an ongoing technology initiative called F1-ice in which Bromley and his brother Richard aim to produce a gold medal winning sled for the Vancouver games in 2010.

The brothers founded a company - Bromley Performance Sports - in 1999.

Bromley said: "This has been a remarkable season. To be the first Brit to win the title of World Champion and the first person in the history of the sport to win the triple crown of titles is really as good as it gets."

He went to Waterfoot Primary School and Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School, but now lives in London.