To say Sheila Daly was afraid of water is an understatement. Showers and baths were almost impossible and a trip to the seaside sheer hell.

Yet the courageous grandmother of three has not only conquered her fear of the wet stuff, she has gone on to receive an outstanding achievement award from the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA).

Mrs Daly, 65, of Gordon Road, Hailsham, recalled a childhood incident which triggered her hydrophobia.

She said: "When I was seven I almost drowned in the sea and at school I remember I was thrown into the deep end.

"I wasn't allowed in the pool after that because I would just scream.

"For years I couldn't sit in the bath. I had to kneel and get out very quickly. I couldn't shower. If I saw a lot of water it got worse."

A grandchild finally encouraged Mrs Daly into the water after watching her husband splashing about with their grandson at Motcombe Swimming Pool, Motcombe Road, Eastbourne.

She said: "My daughter didn't want him to be afraid of the water so I used to try to watch them both and got quite jealous because he was bonding with him in a way which I couldn't."

Mrs Daly learnt to swim at the pool and despite initial nerves about the water coming over her head, she soon found her water wings and now swims at least twice a week.

She puts it all down to the power of prayer from friends at Elim Church, Eastbourne, combined with the fantastic teaching staff at the small pool.

She said: "I have never had a proper hobby before but now if it's a choice between shopping or swimming, swimming wins.

"The staff really helped me. They said they wouldn't so much teach me to swim as teach me water confidence."

After perfecting her front crawl Mrs Daly now practises her back crawl and breaststroke.

Pool manager Linda Lower said: "Her front crawl is excellent. Her determination has paid off. She now enjoys swimming and can even be seen, quite literally, jumping in at the deep end."

The ASA is the UK's governing body for swimming and its awards are handed out in schools and clubs.