EAST Lancashire has played a part in an Olympic gold medallist’s stunning success – as she uses facilities in Darwen to train.

Charlotte Worthington, 25, won gold in Tokyo on Sunday in the women’s BMX freestyle park, with Junction 4 skatepark manager, Anthony Ramsey praising the rider who has at times trained at the centre.

Charlotte, whose parents live in Clitheroe, visits the park with fellow Olympic BMX rider Declan Brooks who scooped a bronze medal on Sunday in the men’s BMX freestyle park.

Anthony said: “She has been brought up around this area and has used skateparks in the area.

“Now this is happening, it’s going to make our area visual to the public.

“Declan has been up here a few times.

“They normally come together because they have been training together.

“It’s a massive achievement and a massive boost to the skatepark and the industry.”

Anthony said that, as well as Charlotte and Declan, the whole BMX team have been to the facility over lockdown.

Currently, the skatepark is undergoing a million-pound development which is being partially funded by the Darwen Town Fund.

The funding is set to make the facility, which has already trained a number of Olympic athletes, an official Olympic training site.

Anthony added: “What we are aiming to achieve is that a young person can learn to ride a bike here and train to Olympic level.

“It’s a massive opportunity for us in Blackburn and Darwen to be put on the map for a new and upcoming sport.”

In the future, Anthony is hoping that Charlotte will return to the area and join the skatepark to train future Olympic hopefuls.