Pupils from Rhyddings Business and Enterprise School were given personal invites to meet double Olympic gold medallist Rebecca Adlington OBE at the opening of a new £13.5m sports centre.

Five sporting pupils from Oswaldtwistle took part in a Q and A session with the 26-year-old freestyle World Swimming champion during a special VIP ceremony at Blackburn College.

Joanne Bury, of Rhyddings school, said they were ‘very privileged’ to be invited with only 100 pupils from across the region taking part.

She said: “We got an invite from the college and myself and five students who have a great interest and excel in different sports went down to meet her.

"We had front row seats and got to ask her all different questions.

“She was a really lovely and down to earth person and we had a great afternoon there looking around the new facilities.

“It was really enjoyable and were very privileged to get a personal invite.”

Rebecca said: “Hopefully this will inspire many athletes – whether that be swimmers or other sportsmen and women – to develop their skills using these facilities and the students who attend here.”