Burgess Hill's swimmers have just learned they have been promoted to division one east of the Speedo National League (South).

The club believed they had missed out when they were third behind Dover and Maidstone in the play-off at Gillingham with the top two going up.

But a space became vacant and the League gave it to Burgess Hill.

Yet the club were unaware because the news was delivered to coaches Brian and Sheila Pace who were holidaying in the Caribbean.

Sheila Pace, assistant club coach and press officer, said: "The letter from the League sat on our mat for a fortnight but it was great news when we opened the post. It is a rapid rise because three years ago we were 25th in division three.

Brighton and Crawley were recently promoted to the premier division.

Richard Salt, from West Chiltington, and Littlehampton's David Bartlett swam personal bests on their British junior international debuts.

Durrington pupil Bartlett swam a best 1min.6.1sec in the 100m breaststroke for sixth and was fourth in the 200m, just outside his best.

Shiverers club swimmer Salt, a pupil at Lancing College, helped Britain finish first in the 4x100m freestyle relay when he swam a best split of 50.4sec on the last leg.

His 2min.9.6sec for sixth in the 200m individual medley was his best time for nine months. He was also sixth in the 100m freestyle.

They helped Britain finish second behind Germany and in front of Italy in a Three Nations meet in Hamburg.