BRADFORD on Avon paddler Ed McKeever will aim to retain his world title in Hungary this weekend.

The former St Laurence School pupil, whose family live in Farleigh Wick, will defend the K1 200m crown he won in Poznan, Poland, last summer and guarantee his spot at the Olympic Games in London next year.

A finish inside the top eight at Szeged will secure his place for the Games programme at Eton's Dorney Lakes where he is touted as one of the favourites to secure a gold medal for Great Britain.

What will also motivate the 27 year-old is the loss of his European crown in Belgrade earlier this summer, when problems at the start meant he had to settle for bronze.

"I'm focussed on the world championships and getting it right for that event,'' he said.

"There are at least eight heats with eight lanes so that's upwards of 60 or 70 people all with the same ambition in mind.''

McKeever heads out to Hungary earlier this month for three weeks of acclimatisation and preparation before this weekend's championships.

He added: "We have a tough block of training, which left me pretty tired, but we got into a training camp to get us ready.

"We wanted to get used to the weather, which can be pretty hot and just put the finishing touches to things.

McKeever will race in heats on Saturday, followed by the final on Sunday.