A 20-year-old from Wallasey has launched a petition calling on the Government to provide funding for deaf athletes.

Nathan Young has just returned home from representing Great Britain at the World Deaf Swimming Championships where he was ranked fifth in the world - breaking the existing English record which had stood for 34 years.

Nathan, who began swimming at the age of nine, is profoundly deaf as a result of a genetic condition which has seen his hearing deteriorate rapidly since being diagnosed as a toddler.

In August, Nathan had to launch a fundraising page to help raise £5,000 to send him to the championships as, in the UK, athletes who are deaf receive no Government funding at all - something which Nathan is desperate to change.

He has now launched a petition calling on UK Sport and the Government demanding the same support for deaf or hard of hearing athletes which is provided to Olympians and Paralympians.

Nathan now has to reach 10,000 signatures to receive a response from Government and at 100,000 signatures the petition will be considered for a debate in Parliament.

Nathan told the Globe: "I have just competed at the World Deaf Swimming Championships in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

"No support or funding has meant that I have had to raise the funds myself alongside my intense training schedule.

"The recent coverage of the World Para Swimming Championships in London highlighted the lack of exposure for deaf swimming.

"My goal is for deaf athletes to receive the same acknowledgement, funding and support as Olympic and Paralympic athletes.

"Please get behind me and my fellow deaf athletes from Great Britain and sign and share my petition. Thank you."

To sign Nathan's petition please visit https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/274219