The 25-year-old amputee, who was born in New Zealand, lost her leg in a boating accident at the age of 16.

Reid competed for Canada at the Beijing 2008 Paralympics, where she finished third over 200 metres, before switching allegiance to Britain and, although she lives in Dallas, she trains regularly in this country, working closely with Lee Valley Performance Centre director Dan Pfaff.

Before claiming her world record, Reid had already achieved the A qualification standard for the long jump for the 2011 International Paralympic Committee (IPC) World Championships in Christchurch, New Zealand, courtesy of a 4.85m effort in the UK Athletics Disability Athletics Challenge Series in Knowsley, Liverpool in May.

Reid’s world record jump, the first time she has ever been over five metres, saw her erase the previous record of 5.04m which was set by Marie Amelie Le Fur of France in 2007.

The jump also illustrated why Reid is widely tipped to one of Britain’s top medal prospects at the London 2012 Paralympic Games in just over two years time.

Reid said: "I have had such an issue with fouling and an inconsistent run up but I just tried not to think about it today.

"I’m thrilled, but it’s something that’s been hovering in the back of my mind as I jump that far quite frequently in practice."

Reid will return to the capital when she lines up in the final event of the 2010 UK Athletics Disability Athletics Challenge Series at Crystal Palace on August 15 where she will now be targeting World Championships qualifying standards over 100m and 200m in a bid to score a trio of podium finishes on the global stage next year.

Reid said: “I PB’d over 100m in Canada earlier in July so I know I’m in good shape, but time is running out to achieve those standards on the track so the pressure is really on me to perform at Crystal Palace.

"2011 will be my second World Championships and I can’t wait to get out there.

"I’ve enjoyed medal success with my third place finish in Beijing, but I want to build on that and experience what it feels like to stand on the top of the podium."

Reid is also set to be one of the stars of the new Channel 4 high concept 90 minute feature documentary about the Paralympics called "Inside Incredible Athletes" which will be televised later this year as part of the channel’s build up to broadcasting London 2012 Paralympics.

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January 2010: Reid switches to Britain from Canada for London 2012