'Winning gold at Special Olympics GB was so epic'

Two swimmers from Dorset are celebrating after medal success at the Special Olympics GB.

Jake Binns, 22, from Shaftesbury and Sam Craddock, 19, from Dorchester both picked up golds as part of the South West Team in the 4x25m relay.

Binns also won gold in the 25m butterfly and silver in the 25m freestyle event. Craddock saw success with bronze in the 50m breast stroke.

"It was so epic, I am so happy and proud," Binns told the BBC, while Craddock said: "Freestyle was my favourite swim because I got to swim really, really fast."

The pair were able to compete in the Special Olympics GB in Birmingham after their swimming club in Shaftesbury became affiliated with the organisation.

More than 1,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities competed across several sports at the event.

Lorah Wild, their coach at Wild Shark Swim School, said she was proud of them.

"They did so well, they did amazingly," she said.

"We actually joined with two swimmers from Plymouth who contacted us the week before to ask if we wanted to make a South West team - and they got gold in the South West team relay.

"So not only did they get gold for Dorchester - they got gold for Dorset and the south west of England - which was incredible."

The two friends are now focusing on the International Special Olympics in London in 2031.

Craddock is in training for the British Down Syndrome Swimming Championships in Crawley, West Sussex, in November.

He said: "I love Crawley and I'm going to win lots of medals."

Following his medal success the people of Shaftesbury have voted for Binns to switch on the town's Christmas lights on 23 November.

"People chose me to switch on the Christmas Lights. I can't wait," he said.