A SKYDIVER from Huddersfield has won a top medal after being drafted in to a competition at the last minute.

Christian Hinchliffe, 30, helped to bring home gold for Great Britain from the European Skydiving Championships held at Spa in Belgium.

It was the self-employed bricklayer's job to jump with Team Optic and make a film as they went through complex sequences in freefall.

Christian's record was handed to judges, who decided the team deserved gold.

After taking the title, Christian, of Longwood, said: "Being asked to help them out at the last minute was a privilege. Getting the gold was just the icing on the cake."

It was only late on that he was enlisted, when the team's regular "camera flyer", Duncan Frew, could not be there.

Christian began skydiving 10 years ago and has made more than 1,500 jumps, mainly at Target Skysports on Humberside.

The skydiver is no stranger to success, being part of a team who are the current British Senior 4 Way champions.

Team-mates in Belgium were Derrick Kent, from Humberside, Pete Allen and Susan Farquhar, both of Mytholmroyd, and Karen Bain, from Loughborough.