A NORTH-East sporting protege has won a scholarship to train in the world's greatest swimming nation.

Teenage swimmer Chris Alderton has won a two-year placement at a boarding school in Southport, Australia, to study for the country's equivalent of A-levels.

The 16-year-old from Hartlepool will also have access to international quality coaches and training facilities.

Chris, who has just finished St Hild's Comprehensive School, in Hartlepool, has been swimming seriously for more than seven years.

For the past three years he has been a member of Wear Valley Amateur Swimming Club.

His dedication to the sport, which sees him swim seven days and 80,000m a week, has helped him win four British junior records in 1,500m and 800m long and short course freestyle.

He first represented Great Britain last year. This summer he competed in the Junior Olympics in Paris, where he took silver in the 1500m freestyle, and also in the British Short Course Championships, in Stockport, where he won two gold medals.

He said: "It was tough deciding whether or not to go because of my friends, family and coach, Gary Hollywood, but it is an opportunity I cannot miss.

"Australia is second to none for swimming facilities and a good education will be great, because when I retire from swimming I want to be a sports scientist."