Double Paralympic champion Simmonds raced to the finish line in a time of 3min 08.14sec, beating her own previous time by more than half-a-second.

"I can't believe I've broken a world record," said 17-year-old Simmonds, who won gold at Beijing 2008 in the 100m and 400m freestyle competitions.

"I haven't had a great week but I've been working hard on the event.

"I was confident but it's a big surprise."

The youngest athlete to compete at the 2008 Paralympics then aged 13, Simmonds has since picked up 15 gold medals at World and European Championships, and on this form will be a strong favourite at this summer's Paralympics.

Simmonds' teammate Natalie Jones came second with Rhiannon Henry in third.

Louise Watkin, who won 50m freestyle gold on Monday, came fourth to make it to London, while Claire Cashmore booked her spot at her third successive Paralympics after finishing fifth.


There was also glory for Sascha Kindred (pictured), who won the men's 200m individual medley in a Paralympic qualifying time of 2:44:51, ahead of James Crisp, who also qualified for London, and Robert Welbourn.

Kindred, who has dominated his class for much of the last decade, will be confident of success at this summer's Paralympics after claiming the 50m butterfly crown last night.

The six time Paralympic champion said: "It was a strong race but it was a little bit slower than I went this morning.

"I was happy with my heat time and tried to improve on it but it just wasn't to be tonight.

"I did enough to win the gold and I'm happy with that so I'm looking forward to taking it to London."

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