TWO York swimmers were among the pick of the Great Britain performers at a prestigious national competition.

Haxby-based Hannah Bickerdike, 20, crowned an impressive display at the BT National Open Championships with a silver medal in the 50 metres breaststroke.

She also produced personal bests and was the first Briton home in the 100m breaststroke, 50m freestyle and 200m individual medley, in which she smashed her own national record by five seconds.

Jane McDermott, 14, from Wheldrake, also emerged with credit from the event held at Pond's Forge in Sheffield.

It was her first appearance in the championships which brought together some of the top disabled swimmers from around the world, hoping to earn qualification times for this year's Paralympic Games.

She earned personal bests in the 50m freestyle, the 50m butterfly, in which she was the second Britain home, and also swam in the 100m freestyle.

York College student Bickerdike, who has spina bifida, and Fulford School pupil McDermott, who has cerebral palsy, are both in the England development squad.

However, they will not qualify for the Paralympic Games. Swimmers must be at least third fastest in the world to earn a place in the Great Britain team.

Both swimmers are coached by Hannah's mother Ruth Bickerdike at Yearsley pool in York.

MEDAL WINNERS: Disabled swimmers Hannah Bickerdike, right, with her Silver medal from the National Championships, and fellow York-area swimmer Jane McDermott who also took part.

Picture David Harrison.