The family of a young woman who was given a new heart are bursting with pride after she won two silver medals at the transplant championships.

Katy Taylor-Hamilton and her parents have recently returned home from Italy after the 21-year-old competed in the European Heart and Lung Transplant Championships.

And Katy, who lives at St Bees, has once again brought her family to tears after scooping silver medals in the 4km cross country event and 100m.

She took part in a further two events, pétanque where she received a participant medal and the cricket ball throw.

Her mum, Emma-Jane Taylor, said it was a highly emotional trip for the family and one which they will remember for a long time.

"The finale was an event called the Circle of Life where all of the transplantees joined hands and closed the circle to the sounds of Queen - We Are The Champions," she said. "There wasn't a dry eye in the place.

"It was a thoroughly enjoyable week where Katy was able to meet and mix with many other heart and lung transplantees and their families from all over Europe."

Katy, who has Down's Syndrome, had slight heart failure when she was 18 months old as a result of the chemotherapy drugs she had taken to battle leukaemia.

Her health deteriorated at the end of 2016 and she was placed on the "active list" for a transplant in the December, which she had the following month.

Emma-Jane said the donor and their family are constantly in their thoughts.

"None of these activities or sporting events could have taken place for these participants if it wasn't for Organ Donation and transplantation," she added.

"So many people are grateful for their gifts along with their families."

Katy is now gearing up for the British Transplant Games which take place in Birmingham in August.