For the second year running, a 16-year-old from Paulton has been selected to represent Great Britain in the sport of canoeing.

Alec Baker will be the youngest member of the Great Britain squad when he competes in the Junior European Wildwater Canoeing Championships on the River Ibar in Kraljevo, Serbia, between July 21 and 25.

Baker has just finished his GCSEs at Norton Hill School and is enjoying the extra time training in preparation for the event.

He was selected to take part after successful trials on the River Trweryn in Bala, North Wales, in April and since then has been training six times a week at Bradford on Avon Canoe Club.

The European Championship event includes Wildwater sprinting, which consists of two runs over a 500m course, classic racing (a single timed run of 5km) and team sprint and classic races, where all three team members must finish within seven seconds of each other.

"Wildwater Canoeing is a test not only of speed and stamina but also of white water skills and a competitor's ability to choose the best line down the river," said Baker.

In August, Baker will be competing in the prestigious XVIII Sea Kayak Round Madeira Island Race between August 24 and 29.