CHESHIRE swimming superstar Poppy Maskill has moved a step closer to Paralympic gold.

The 19-year-old from Middlewich put in an impressive performance in her S14 100m Butterfly heat.

Maskill’s time of 1.03.66 on day one of the Paris Games saw her finish in first place, ahead of co-world record holder Valeriia Shabalina.

Speaking after the race, she said: "To be honest no (I didn't expect to be so quick)."

On what to expect from her in this evening's final, she added: "Try and come back and do even better if I can.

"Yeah I am (excited), it should be good!"

Maskill will be joined in the final by Team GB’s Olivia Newman-Baronius, who finished second in her heat with a time of 1.05.30.

It will no doubt be a competitive race, with Newman-Baronius having matched Shabalina's world record time of 1.03.33 in the build-up to this year's games.

And there was early success for the men too, with Will Ellard earning his spot in the S14 100m Butterfly final with a heat-winning time of 54.97.

The men’s final takes place at 5.36pm tonight, ahead of the women’s final at 5.42pm.

You can watch former Northwich Centurions and Winsford Swim Team competitor Maskill as she goes for gold on Channel 4.