Competitive British swimmer Andy Banks has just qualified for the Down Syndrome World Championships – for the fifth time running.

Mr Banks, of Harby, Leicestershire, will compete in the 50-metre long course pool at the forthcoming Down Syndrome World Championship Games in Florence, Italy, which will be hosted in July later this year.

The dedicated swimmer has to date taken part in four similar championships, hosted across the globe in Taiwan, Italy, Mexico and Portugal – since he first qualified for the biennial championships in 2008.

Andy recently set a new Down’s Syndrome European Masters Long Course record in the 800m category, beating a two-year strong record set by an Italian rival.

Keith Banks, Andy’s father, said: “I’m sure that the Italians will attempt to get the record back at the world championships later this year!

“The Down’s international championships are the highest level that Andy can swim at,” he said.