FORMER Southend swimmer Mark Foster admitted to being delighted with his silver medal in the World Short-Course Championships in Manchester.

Only a world record by Croatia's Duje Draganja stopped Foster, at the age of 37, adding to his tally of four golds in the event.

But this was the seventh World Short Course medal in four years for Foster, who earlier in the month qualified as the oldest member of the British squad for the Beijing Olympics.

He had a 50 metres freestyle time of 21.31 seconds against the 20.81 of the winner to collect the 47th major championship medal of his illustrious career.

The man who started his swimming career under the tuition of recently retired Borough of Southend swim squad coach Mike Higgs at Warrior Square said: "I'm really pleased with the silver. To be beaten by half a second and a world record isn't too bad at 37.

"I knew he was going to be the one to beat. I've trained with him in the United States and knew he was in great shape."

Following his efforts in the 50m freestyle, it was no real surprise when the 50 butterfly final proved a race too far for Foster, members of whose family still live in Southend, and he finished fifth.