A MELKSHAM 10-year-old was joined by Paralympic gold medallist Stephanie Millward in the pool as he completed his mammoth swimming challenge.

Ciaran Hanks, who has asthma and struggled to complete just one length of the pool earlier this year, smashed his target of swimming the equivalent of the English Channel by Christmas day at Trowbridge Sports Centre on Thursday evening (October 13).

So far the Aloeric Primary School pupil, of Hazlewood Road, has raised over £600 for Wiltshire Air Ambulance by swimming the gruelling 35km distance.

Ciaran said: “It was really fun swimming with Stephanie and I’m really proud I managed to finish the challenge in half the time.

“Stephanie gave me some tips on my backstroke which I’m looking forward to trying out when I get back in the pool.

“I think I want to be a swimmer or footballer when I’m older. I love swimming, it’s really relaxing and you get in the zone when you’re in the pool.

“I’m going to keep on swimming as much as I can to keep the rhythm going before my next big challenge.”

Ciaran found out about the challenge through Swimtag, a wristwatch worn in the water which monitors how far you swim, and began it in August.

Mum Caroline, 42, said: “He absolutely loved being able to swim with Stephanie; he was in his element.

“He managed to do 32 lengths in only 25 minutes which was a great achievement and his quickest ever time – he swam his little heart out.

“The sports centre allowed him to have a private lane for 25 minutes and he was so determined to finish the distance in that time.

“I was incredibly proud watching on, what he has achieved is immense. It was also an honour meeting Stephanie, who looked like a dolphin in the water.”

Ciaran is asking people which challenge he should complete next via a poll on his Facebook page which can be found by searching for ‘Ciaran’s Channel Swim' on the social media site.

To sponsor Ciaran visit justgiving.com/fundraising/CiaransChannelSwim.