Pupils with special needs and disabilities at a Sutton school are celebrating after they were crowned the winners of the inaugural Panathlon London Swimming Final.

Children from Foresters Primary School, in Redford Avenue, finished first out of seven teams to clinch their first-ever gold medal in almost six years of participation.

With 62 points they were ahead of Wandsworth’s Sacred Heart RC Primary School, who were runners-up with just two fewer points, and Newham’s Carpenters Primary School who had 46.

Foresters Primary School competed across a range of specially adapted races and aquatic challenges before being named the winners at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park in east London.

Now their victory means they will be back at the same venue, which hosted the London 2012 Summer Olympics, for the national under-14s final this November.

“This is such a great opportunity. The children absolutely love it, it’s wonderful,” said Vea Billin, sports coach at Foresters.

“We have a lot of sporting opportunity for our mainstream children but not as many for our special needs kids.

“I have to say, if it weren’t for Panathlon these children would not be afforded these opportunities.”