LITTLE Hereford swimmer Fern Davies has been fast-tracked as a future British Olympian after being handpicked to join the Lloyds TSB Local Heroes initiative.

Davies, who turned 17 earlier this week, attends Ludlow Sixth Form College and will receive a cash injection of £1,000 to help with the cost of training and competing after being one of only 250 youngsters selected from across the UK.

Davies also attended the Cardiff launch of the initiative at the Welsh Institute of Sport, where she received masterclasses with former British Olympians Iwan Thomas and Katharine Merry on food, nutrition, media and training.

And the former Wigmore High school pupil, who specialises in the individual medley, believes the extra funding will be crucial in her bid to one day star on the Olympic stage after revealing travel costs were threatening to spiral out of control.

“The money is a great help to me because I have to travel an hour and a half to training and back every morning so that costs a lot of money,” said Davies, who swims for City of Birmingham.

“The petrol driving to Birmingham and back every day is really expensive so to get the help is great, not just for me but mainly for my parents.

“It’s great to be selected as a local hero because it shows that someone is recognising what you are doing and that you are doing well.

It gives you the confidence that you can make it and it helps to motivate you to keep going.

“It was great to meet the Olympians and hear their experiences of an Olympic Games.”

Davies - who competed at this year’s British Championships in Sheffield, finishing ninth in the 400m IM and reaching the 200m semi finals - caught the eye of Merry in Cardiff.

And the former British No.1 400m ace, who spent individual tuition time with each of the 36 Local Heroes attending, is backing the City of Birmingham teenage swimmer to make waves in the coming years.

“It has been a real privilege to come and meet some of these youngsters,”

said Merry. “I know there’s going to be a handful which will go on and represent Great Britain at an Olympic Games, whether that is at London 2012 or in 2016.

“The boost and confidence the likes of Fern will receive after being recognised by this initiative will act as a real spur going forward.

“Meeting like-minded athletes from a variety of sports and hopefully tapping into the knowledge and experience of former Olympians can only benefit them in the years to come.”

Lloyds TSB is providing £1,000 to over 250 emerging young sportspeople identified each year across Britain, in the run up to London 2012 and beyond. Visit Lloydstsb.com/Localher oes