OLYMPIC swimmer Joanne Jackson, from Richmond, has been given a £1,000 training grant.

Richmondshire District Council made the award under its Talented Young Sportsperson programme towards travel and training costs.

The Richmond School sixth former trains five times a week at the town's pool and swims for Richmond Dales and Derwentside amateur swimming clubs.

"This is the third grant I've received from the council," said the 18-year-old. "It really helps. I regularly travel to Newcastle for training; that uses a lot of petrol and often when I'm competing further afield there are hotel bills to pay which costs my parents a fortune. The grant lightens the load."

The council has given grants totalling £2,525 to eight young sportsmen and women in the last year.

Coun Richard Dunn, chairman of the community committee, said: "The amount awarded is directly related to the amount spent by the competitor or their parents on training costs, travel expenses and accommodation.

"The maximum amount granted is usually £300, but in Joanne's case the level of funding was increased. Her commitment and achievements deserve recognition and support and this was reflected in the amount awarded."

Miss Jackson followed the Olympic success of her sister, Nicola. She started swimming competitively at national level aged 13 and is British and European 400m freestyle champion.

She competed with the British Olympic team in the 400m freestyle and 4x200m freestyle relay in Athens in the summer.

"Going to Athens was pretty overwhelming," she said. "Although we didn't perform fantastically well, I was able to use the experience as preparation for Beijing in 2008 and that was extremely valuable."

Richmondshire Leisure, which operates the town pool, extended opening times to accommodate the early morning schedules of Joanne and other talented swimmers.