A TEAM of young swimmers have made a splash by winning a hard-fought London-wide contest for their school.

Athletes from Forest, in Snaresbrook, saw off fierce competition from youngsters from across the capital to record the highest overall score during the school's annual Under 11s Swimming Gala.

Fourteen schools took part in the gruelling event - with 24 teams of swimmers competing in a range of disciplines from butterfly to back stroke.

Forest's team came top on the day with 138 points, narrowly pipping rivals Bancroft's to the post.

Forest teacher George Paynter said: "There were 12 teams in the boys competition and 12 in the girls competition, with the combined scores deciding the overall winning school.

"The Forest swimmers had been training hard in the run up to the event and were determined to finish better than the 3rd place they had achieved in the last two years.

"Despite only winning one race (the boys 4 x 25m medley), Forest were always around the second and third position - therefore scoring plenty of points.

"Congratulations to all the boys and girls who took part. It truly was a team victory and therefore all of our swimmers should be recognised for their contributions."