Paralympic swimmer leads Children in Need challenge

Four-time gold medal winning Paralympian Maisie Summers-Newton was part of BBC Northampton's swimming team for Children in Need

A four-time Paralympic gold medal winning swimmer has helped a local radio station in its charity challenge.

Maisie Summers-Newton, 22, from Wollaston, Northamptonshire, won two gold medals and a bronze for Paralympics GB at Paris 2024.

She swam more than 50 lengths in the Mounts Baths pool in Northampton, as part of this year's Thousand Mile Challenge for Children in Need.

BBC Northampton joined other radio stations across the UK to collectively swim 1,000 miles (1,609km) in a week.

Speaking after her effort, Summers-Newton said it "was fun" and "great to swim [with the Breakfast team]".

Maisie Summers-Newton swam "50 and a bit" lengths of the Mounts Baths pool for Children in Need

The Mounts Baths is a familiar venue for Summers-Newton as it is a regular training spot for her.

Returning to the pool held "lots of memories " for the Paralympian - particularly getting up at 04:00 GMT.

She confessed the charity swim was only the "seventh time" she had been in a pool since the Paris games and so felt "a bit rusty" but despite this, outpaced all the members of the breakfast show.

With the aid of Summers-Newton, the team were able to complete their final 300 lengths of their 24-mile target.

Presenter Annabel Amos said: "I feel pretty chuffed that I was in the same lane as Maisie Summers-Newton.

"We did [the challenge!"].