Redhill swimmer Louise Watkin has taken a silver medal in Beijing in her first Paralympic Games. Louise, 16, finished second in a new European record in the women's S9 class 100m freestyle event on Monday night.

She said her medal win had left her "a bit speechless" and feeling "over the moon."

Her parents were watching her swim and the event was televised.

She had won through heats to reach the final, setting a European record in the process by shaving nearly half a second off the old record.

In the final race, she lost to South African Natalie Du Toit who took the gold in a new Paralympic record.

But Louise said: "I'm really over the moon. I had no idea what to think coming into the final. I just wanted to take it as it came."

She said: "To get a silver has left me a bit speechless.

"At 50 metres gone I thought I had lost it so I pushed on through the final straight and can't believe I got it."

She added: "My ultimate goal here was to get one medal and I've already done that, which is great now."

Louise, who is the third youngest of the 36-strong Great Britain swimming squad, has been hailed as a rising star and an example of the British tradition of outstanding women arm amputee swimmers.

She made the team as a strong medal hopeful after breaking the 100m freestyle European record for her class in competition.

She is due to swim in more competitions tomorrow and on Thursday, Friday and Sunday.

Louise, who trains in Devon under former Olympic swimmer Robin Brew and keeps fit with gym work and running, was due to be competing in a total of five events over eight days at Beijing's National Aquatics Centre, including the 100m breaststroke and 200m individual medley.