GRAEME Ballard signed off a stellar career with bronze in the World Para Athletics European Championships in Berlin.

The Chorley sprinter is hanging up his spikes at the age of 39 after a career which has yielded medals at Paralympic, World and European level.

In true style he finished with another place on the podium, bronze coming his way in the T36 200m to go alongside his 100m title from earlier in the week.

“That was about the best I could have done on the day,” said Ballard whose medal haul includes two from the Paralympics including a silver at London 2012.

“To come away with two medals in your last ever Championships is pretty darn good. I had mixed emotions but I still had a job to do, but at the end of the day I came up against people better and you have to say hats off to them.

“Sometimes I know I have been a pain in the rear end but it has all been worth it.

“It is time to pass on what I have gained and hopefully we can get more kids coming through to compete for GB. It has been a long and successful career but the world record I set in Manchester (in 2012) has got to be up there as one of the best moments.”

British Athletics works alongside UK Sport and the National Lottery to support the delivery of success at the world’s most significant sporting events, principally the Olympic and Paralympic Games. They do this via the funded initiative, the World Class Programme, one part of the British Athletics pathway.