A high-flying Harwich swimmer has taken a silver medal in a county competition – and smashed a ten-year-old record.

Jack Howlett, who is 15 and who swims for Harwich Swimming Club, came second in the 50m freestyle race at the Essex County Championships staged at Basildon Sporting Village.

His time of 25.76 seconds also smashed a ten-year Harwich Swimming Club record previously held by Kim Crocker by more than a second.

Howlett’s success means he qualifies for the South East regional championships later this year.