A young swimmer is celebrating after qualifying for the senior national championships in Sheffield later this year.

Charlotte Marshall, from Tottington, took part in the North of England zonal meet last month, reaching the finals of all four of her events.

The 14-year-old took second place in the 50 metre backstroke to win the silver medal. With an open age group national qualifying time of 31.94 seconds, Charlotte has qualified for the senior national championships, which will take place at Ponds Forge in Sheffield on August 9.

The youngster, who is ranked in Britain’s top 10 in her age group, also finished fourth in the 50 metre butterfly and fifth in both the 50 metre freestyle and 100 metre backstroke.

Charlotte, pictured, who competes for both Ramsbottom Amateur Rascals Swimming Club and City of Salford, started swimming at the age of nine.

She has enjoyed plenty of success over the last six months, having been selected as the girls’ captain for the Central Lancashire association team in the inter-association gala, which was held in Blackpool in November.

The Bury Grammar School for Girls pupil was also part of the school team which competed at the English Schools Swimming Association finals. The team reached the national finals for both the freestyle relay and the medley relay.

Last summer, Charlotte became the Welsh national swimming champion in the 50-metre butterfly in the 13-year-old age group. As well as winning gold in the butterfly, Charlotte also claimed silver in the 50m and 100m backstroke, and a bronze medal in the 200 metre backstroke.

Charlotte will now attend a week-long overseas training camp in Spain with the Salford club, where she can expect to be swimming four hours each day, and covering around 100 kilometres in the week.