A WARRINGTON Collegiate student is celebrating after scooping a whole host of medals at the Special Olympics in Glasgow.

Gymnast Rachel Fairhurst, of Hudson Close, Old Hall, won a Special Olympics bronze medal after competing in the beam, bar, floor and vault competitions.

Rachel's mother Margaret said: "Rachel was delighted with how she performed in the Special Olympics. Over the years she has got better and better at gymnastics and her favourite event is probably the floor."

The Special Olympics are held every four years and more than 2,500 athletes competed in 23 different sports over eight days at this year's event.

Eighteen-year-old Rachel, who is studying on the working towards independence course at the Collegiate, travelled to Glasgow with around 20 other athletes from her gym.

It was when Rachel was three that she began training at Grappenhall Community Centre and discovered she had a talent for gymnastics.

Now she trains with the North Cheshire Brookfield Gym Club at Kingsway Leisure Centre in Widnes.