A Woodham schoolgirl has been named swimmer of the year.

Sedgefield District ASC swimming and water polo star Angela Winstanley-Smith, 15, was presented with the Northumberland and Durham ASA's Swimmer of the Year award.

She beat off strong competition from Olympians Susan Rolph, of Newcastle, and Nicola Jackson, of Richmond and Derwentside.

Angela is believed to be the only British female to gain international honours at both swimming and water polo. She will swim for the GB junior team in Germany on December 16 and 17.

She has already played for the GB women's U17 and U20 water polo teams in Europe.

Her polo coach George Carpenter says: "Angela is now recognised as the greatest female polo player ever produced in Britain."

Angela, head girl at Woodham Comprehensive School, this year became an English Schools' champion with victory in the 100 metres backstroke in the Isle of Man. She is also the national age group champion.

In this year's Northumberland and Durham championships, Angela won ten gold medals and in the higher-ranked North-East Counties senior and junior short course and long course championships, Angela won four golds.

Only two years ago Angela was one of many aspiring swimmers in her age group. It has taken careful training by swimming coach John Moore and Mr Carpenter, helped by the skill of physiologist Dr Malcolm Robson, of Hett, to bring her to the front rank.

Mr Moore said: "I could see there was something there, but it was important to bring her along at the right rate."

Angela's next target is the national championships at Sheffield on December 7-10.

Her proud dad Chris said: "In the longer term we are looking to the Commonwealth Games and then perhaps the Olympics."