PARALYMPIAN Stephanie Millward left her mark on Corsham after the pool at Springfields Leisure Centre was renamed in her honour following her success at both London 2012 and Rio 2016.

The 35-year-old swimmer, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at the age of 17, said she never dreamed that a pool would be named after her at the official open event on Thursday.

She said: "I had a dream many, many years ago and this dream was to win a gold medal and now I have won two thanks to everyone in Corsham and their support.

"I didn't have a dream about this - it is the best icing on the cake for me. Wiltshire has given something to me that I never asked for. Hopefully people will know that I have fought for a lot of things and I will keep on fighting. I hope that I can inspire them to achieve everything they want in life."

Millward also joined Baroness Jane Scott for the official opening of Springfield Leisure Centre where she was praised for inspiring so many young people in the town with her story.

"Steph, you are really an inspiration to us all," Baroness Scott said. "The swimming pool here is really well used and the club nearly has 500 members. Wiltshire Council has spent £16 million on this campus to provide the services and facilities that the local community here in Corsham needs and it has been well worth it.

"Corsham is the first of our community campuses and it always gives me a really good feeling when I come here because it is a shining example of what can be achieved when you have a clear vision and work together with the local community. It is a legacy for us as a council."

After the opening ceremony, the two-time gold medalist, who was praised by Councillor Ruth Hopkinson chair of Corsham Town Council, for living up to every expectation, posed for photos with adoring fans.

Richard Benson, who helps coach the Corsham Orcas, added: "There is definitely a bug for swimming and I think the kids are getting it. There was one young lad, who had Stephanie's gold medal put around his neck and if you looked at his face, it was like he was in seventh heaven. She is such an ambassador for the sport."