SCHOOLGIRL Annabelle Whipp has thrown herself into the deep end by battling against all the odds to qualify for a national swimming championship.

Annabelle, of Long Park, Chesham Bois, is set to make a splash against some of the best young swimmers in the country at the races in Sheffield in July.

But the 12-year-old, a member of Amersham Swimming Club, has had to travel all over the place to find somewhere to train after her local pool, Chiltern Pools in Chiltern Avenue, Amersham, was closed for refurbishment.

Annabelle's mum, Diane, explained: "Its been very difficult indeed. Amersham Swimming Club haven't had a home for the last six months so we've been having to get up at around 5.30 in the morning to get to other pools in Rickmansworth and Watford."

Annabelle, a pupil at Pipers Corner School in Great Kingshill, recently scooped a bronze medal in the recent Counties Championship held in Maidenhead.

However, Amersham's Chiltern Pools finally reopened with a splash this week.

The pool was due to re-open at the start of the year but more work was needed to make it safe.