TWO youngsters from Chineham have made a splash by earning a top swimming award.

Ben Weston, seven, of Fennel Close, and Sophie Webb, six, of Renown Way, will each receive one of 50 coveted Southern Water Learn to Swim Achiever of the Year awards after being selected from a possible 35,000 children in the South East.

Ben was chosen because of his swimming success despite having a serious and incurable eye condition known as nystagmus. It means he has difficulty focusing his eyes properly, which makes concentrating on swimming lessons extremely hard.

But Ben's courage and determination in his lessons at the Sports Centre, in Basingstoke, have paid off, as he recently managed to swim 10 metres.

Sophie has been selected because of her phenomenal success in learning to swim in the last year. She has already gained six amateur swimming association national teaching plan awards and trains with Basingstoke Swimming Club.

Both children and their families will attend a regional awards ceremony at the Portsmouth Hilton hotel on April 27.

Ben's dad, Mark, said: "Ben really enjoys his swimming lessons. This year he has worked very hard. It's brilliant for him, and we are delighted."

Sophie's dad, Malcolm, said: "We are really proud. Sophie is very strong for her age, and very determined. She's a real water baby."