INVERCLYDE is celebrating major success as two swimming stars bring home medals from the national summer games for athletes with learning disablities.

Greenock's Stephen Doyle won gold in the 200m freestyle for the West of Scotland in the games run by Scottish Learning Disability Sport.

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His team mate Lindi Steele took silver in the 50m backstroke as well as bronze in the 50m freestyle.

The pair were given a victory reception when they arrived back at Branching Out Parklea, where they are also hugely valued members of the team.

They are part of the hugely successful Port Glasgow Otters where they are coached by Eddie McCluskey and his team.

Gold medalist Stephen Coyle, aged 28, from Greenock said: "I had a great day. I love being involved in swimming and the Port Glasgow Otters.

"All the Port Glasgow Otters did really well. We won lots of medals between us.

"I also like Branching Out, I just started recently."

As well as his gold in 200m freestyle, Stephen took bronze in the 50m and came second in the 50 m breastroke, but ended up disqualified for his leg stroke.

He also won two participation medals for freestyle and participation.

His success was shared by Lindi Steele, from Port Glasgow, who won her silver in 50m backstroke as well as bronze in 50m freestyle and her participation medal.

Lindi, who started swimming ten years ago, said: "I loved taking part in the event it was great and I am very proud of my medals."

Cheering Lindi and the rest of the team on at Stirling University were her parents George and Elizabeth.

Elizabeth said:"We were so proud of them all, it was a fantastic event and a great achievement. Eddie McCluskey does a great job with the Port Glasgow Otters.

"It gives adults and young people with learning disabilities opportunities they don't get anywhere else.

Both Stephen and Lindi are part of the pioneering Branching Out team, a facility which offers horticulture training, skills and opportunities for adults with learning disabilities at Parklea.

The staff and the rest of the clients were lining up to congratulate Stephen and Lindi on their success.

Lindi's mum Elizabeth praised the opportunities that both Branching out and Port Glasgow Otters bring for people with learning disabilities.

She said: "It is all great for their self esteem and achieving. When they come to Branching Out they are included, not excluded.

"I think what is the most important thing is that people with learning disabilities are not put in a corner, they are achieving, they are doing things together. That is all you want as a parent.

"People with disabilities don't see disabilities in other people, they just see people.

"When they come to Branching Out and also Port Glasgow Otters in the Port Glasgow baths, they have company, they have one another."

In a message of support Branching Out congratulated them on their amazing achievements at the national summer games run by the Scotland Learning Disability Sport board.