Emily Dance has been swimming for about two years and her teacher Lynn Wilson, who has been taught thousands of young people in Corby to swim during the past 24 years, said the toddler could one day become a top class swimmer.

Lynn said: "It's extremely rare to see someone Emily's age swimming a length.

"She's so tiny that she can't swim along the sides of the pool because the waves from other swimmers pushes her into the sides.

"Emily's been swimming since she was five months old.

"We're hoping that by the time the new Corby pool opens that Emily will be able to swim 50m."

Lynn runs a lunchtime group to help parents and carers learn methods to help youngsters to swim. She also has two other Corby talents in her classes – three-year-old Izzy Smith who can swim four lengths with an aid and Mya, 20 months, who is a competent swimmer despite her young age.

Lynn added: "Emily is exceptional and she has already got her three 'duckling' awards that are part of the Government's learn to swim scheme.

"We think she'll go a long way."

Mum Paula, 34, of the Exeter Estate, Corby, said: "Her progress has been helped by the fact she has an older brother and sister and she tries to keep up with them.

"At first she cried when I put her in the water but she likes it now.

"We come swimming twice a week but we're not going to push her. Her brother was asked to swim competitively when he was six-and-a-half but didn't want to, so we'll just have to see what happens with Emily."

Lynn will be hosting a splashathon event at the pool on May 21. People are welcome to go along during the day with their children to splash about in the pool to raise cash for Kettering General Hospital's special care baby unit. For further information call the pool on 464643.