CRICKLADE'S Laura Halford has been crowned the 2015 rhythmic gymnastics all-around champion at the first ever British Gymnastics Championships Series from Liverpool’s Echo Arena.

Laura, who trains at the Esprit Club in Swindon,  retained her British title with a score of 58.200 after her hoop, ball, club and ribbon routines.

Her Esprit club teammate Stephani Sherlock collected silver with 55.800, while 2012 Olympian Lynne Hutchison won bronze with 55.150.

Laura’s performances complete a hat-trick of senior titles to add to the three Commonwealth Games medals for Wales in Glasgow.

She said: “I’m really, really happy to have won the title again.

“My first routines didn’t go to plan so I had to really fight back and perform at my best to take the gold.

"I definitely felt more pressure and expectation coming into this and to win again is just as good if not better than the first time.

“The arena is brilliant and feels like a major championship which for the younger girls especially is a great experience. I’m so happy to be British champion again and in the apparatus finals now I can compete with less pressure and really express myself."