GYMNASTICS champions have their sights set on the Olympics after coming top in a national contest.

Hayley Robson, 11 and Rachel Collinson, 16, both came away with gold medals after competing against some of the country's top gymnasts in a competition at the weekend.

The two girls from South Durham Gym Club, based in Spennymoor, are now training with the Olympic squad along with another winner in the British Schools' National Apparatus finals, Amy Foss-heim, 11, who secured silver in the junior category.

Rachel spends one week a month at the national sports centre in Telford, training for the 2004 Olympics.

Her younger counterparts are aiming to compete in the 2008 contest, and spend a minimum of 25 hours a week training.

Coach Nicola Preston said: "This wasn't some Mickey Mouse contest, they were all the top gymnasts from all over the country.

"We were competing against clubs that are five times bigger than we are. To have all these winners in one contest is fantastic."

The girls were also part of a winning group entries. The senior team came first and the junior team came third.