Shropshire water baby Max is face of swimming classes

Max has been swimming since he was four months old. And today he was named as the Face of Water Babies for November, as part of a competition held by the swimming class he attends.

The winners are drawn from the underwater photographs of young swimmers who take part in UK-wide Water Babies swimming classes.

Max lives in Low Town, Bridgnorth, with his parents Gemma and Jon and baby sister Mia.

Gemma, 34, said: "He has been in the pool virtually every week since he was four months old and he absolutely loves it – it's amazing to see how he's come on. The confidence he has in the water is plain to see and he really enjoys the classes.

"I love this photo of him, and friends and family who have seen the picture are always amazed by it. We are so thrilled that he has been chosen."

Gemma said that they had carried on going to the water babies classes in Tettenhall, Wolverhampton, as they learned so much every week.

She said: "The classes are a lot of fun and so much better than me just taking Max on his own. There are loads of activities for the children to do, games to play and the water temperature in the pool is nice and warm."

Paul Thompson, co-founder of Water Babies, said the response to the Water Babies competition has been phenomenal, with more than 300 entries received in the first 48 hours of the competition opening and entries continuing to flood in.

He said: "We want to offer a huge congratulations to Max for being our chosen face for November. We have been blown away by the number of entries and we are continuing to receive them. Very young children love to swim and of course it is a very important skill to have as they grow up."

Max will represent Water Babies for the month and his picture will feature as the cover photo on the Water Babies Facebook page. Any nominations received are automatically put forward into the following months.