THE founder of a training company that offers courses in Swindon taught Britain's top long-jumper how to perfect a needle-focused form of massage therapy.

Dawn Morse of Core Elements and her team gave 24-year-old Feron Sayers a two-day course in the art of dry needling at Jury's Inn.

Dawn, 42, ran the University of Bath foundation degree in sports therapy at Swindon College for nine years.

She now runs her own accredited Level 4 and Level 5 sports and remedial massage courses across the UK, including regular classes at the town centre hotel throughout the year.

Dawn said: “I was delighted that Feron wanted to come along to learn a new skill and to really understand the benefit that dry needling can bring to any elite athlete, professional therapist or professional sports coach or trainer.”

Feron Sayers became the first British boy to jump over seven metres when he was only 14 years old.

A decade later, he's the UK's number one long-jumper and one of the top 10 in all of Europe.

In 2018, he jumped more than eight metres and is working towards selection for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

Dawn is one of the UK's leading trainers of dry needling, which uses small needles to ease muscular pain, release tension and knots in pressure points.

It;'s a different technique to acupuncture, which is more focused on the body's nervous system.

Dawn's level 5 certificate in dry needling course is designed for qualified professionals working within therapy, in injury treatment or rehabilitation treatment. The course is run throughout the year at Jury's Inn small groups of individuals who wish to work in the sector and improve their skills

The next available Swindon course is in December and works from other bases in Exeter, Plymouth, Liverpool.

Dawn's company organises training programmes for professionals in other areas like remedial massage therapy, yoga science and back pain, kinesiology, dry cupping, electrotherapy, and the science of stretching.

She has lectured in sports science and therapy for over ten years.