STUDENTS in Bolton are jumping for joy - literally!

The University of Bolton's trampoline team have won three out of four gold medals in the Northern heats of the BUSA student trampolining competition.

And the success was made more spectacular, because it was the first time they had entered the contest.

The trampolining team was only formed 12 months ago, and has only been a sporting activity at the university for the last 18 months.

According to the team, judges were so amazed by the routines performed during the qualifiers, they actually questioned whether some of the team members were too good to be competing in the novice sections they entered.

Now the team is travelling to the University of Surrey in Guildford to take part in the National British Universities Sports Association Competition on Sunday.

Team captain and trampolining club chairman Lorraine Morris said: "The club has surpassed everyone's expectations in less than a year.

"I dare say we put Bolton on the map."

The team took part in the contest at Sugden Sports Centre in Manchester. They entered four categories - novice and intermediate men's and women's sections of the competition.

Each competitor completed two routines which included 10 moves.

Carl McClung, aged 22, came first in the intermediate men's category out of 23 competitors, Toni Britain, aged 18, came first out of 72 competitors in the intermediate women's category, Hayley Wray, aged 19, was awarded first place out of 90 places in the women's novice category, and Bill Duerden, aged 21, came third in the novice men's category out of 35 other competitors.

Any students who would like to join the trampoline club are welcome.

Classes take place on Mondays from 4.30pm to 6pm and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12.30pm to 1.30pm, in the university Sports Centre on the Deane Campus, between College Way and Derby Street, Bolton.

For more information about the team email Lorraine at lm2pls@bolton.ac.uk