Claire Scott, 34, was one of four members of the all-female Team Storm which triumphed in the event held at Hibaldstow Airfield, Lincs.

Team Storm, whose other members are Sarah Smith, 30, from Whatton, Kate Stephens, 32, from Huntingdon, and Hannah Betts, 29, from Cardiff, beat 10 other teams to the title, including the reigning British and world champions, Team Elan. Ms Scott also helped win gold at last year's event, when she was a member of Team Elan.

She said: "This is the second time I've won the British Championship, and it still hasn't really sunk in."

Ms Scott, who regularly trains at nearby RAF Weston-on-the-Green, gave up her job as a sales manager in May to train full-time, along with the rest of her team mates.

The team made around 700 jumps in this country and with a trainer in California to prepare for the championships, as well as using a special windtunnel near Bedford.

Backed by their sponsors, the insurance firm HCC Global, the team members will work with a number of women's and children's charities to promote sport.

The British champions are now training hard before they represent their country in next year's world championships in France, and aim to do more than 1,000 training jumps in Perris Valley, California, between now and then.

Competition skydivers score points by changing formation as many times as possible in 35 seconds while freefalling at speeds of up 120mph.
They are filmed by a fifth team member, and footage is used by judges to determine the winner.