Loughton Athletic Club is celebrating after member Melanie Peddle won gold in the British Masters Championships in Derby in the 3000m race walk.

Melanie’s time of 15:47.82 was also a British record for her age group, 50 plus.

The championships, which pits the best masters athletes, aged over 35, from each region of the country against each other, runs over two days and features a full track and field programme.

Melanie, from Theydon Bois, only took up race walking competitively in 2016 after a chance taster session at her running club in Loughton but has since gone on to compete for Team GB in masters events all over the UK and Europe.

Following her victory, Melanie said: “I was pushed really hard all the way but I’m so chuffed.

“The support from my club has been fabulous.”