A YOUNG athlete is hoping to emulate her hero after jumping into the North-East record books.

Long jumper Chloe Gill, 11, of Blackhill, Consett, has twice broken the region's under-13 record.

The youngster trains with Gateshead Harriers, the club where world triple-jump champion Jonathan Edwards trained, and her feats are attracting attention from the Olympic gold medal-winner's former coach, Peter Stanley.

Proud mother Heather Gill said: "Peter doesn't take on anyone as young as Chloe, but he knows who she is. He always asks after her, how she is doing and keeps an interest."

Chloe, a pupil at St Bede's RC School, in Lanchester, broke her own record at an indoor athletics competition in Jarrow, South Tyneside. She faced competition from girls a year older than her, but jumped 4.3 metres.

"When she lines up against some of the other girls, they are absolutely massive compared to her. But she never lets it put her off - she absolutely loves it," said Mrs Gill.

The youngster started as a sprinter with Blackhill Bounders, at Blackfyne School, Consett, and only took up long jumping by chance.

"She was always a fast runner and runs the 60m," said Mrs Gill. "She entered the long jump just for another thing to do at track competitions between races and has amazed us all."