THESE amazing pictures of real life water baby Rosanna Ogden show just how far the youngster has come — since undergoing major heart surgery as a baby.

The miracle youngster is just as at home in the water as she is on solid ground — and spends many hours in the pool each week practicing her lengths at the Georgian House Hotel in Blackrod.

The five-year-old became one of the youngest children to swim 600 metres unaided shortly after recovering from a rare, non-cancerous heart tumour and has raised thousands of pounds for Heart Research UK in the process.

But now little Rosanna needs the help of people in Bolton for her next venture and is sending out a plea to swimming clubs, community groups and schools to support her sponsored swim in five weeks, where she will be swimming a mile.

Mum Sally Ogden is urging children and adults of all abilities and ages to join her daughter on August 1 at David Lloyd Leisure in Chorley and help them hit the target of 200 swimmers.

Mrs Ogden said: "It is only a few weeks away but we still need people to take part. Swimming is something that Rosanna is well known for in Bolton and we hope that schools and clubs in the area will want to support such a big event for her.

"We have people coming from London, Scotland, Nottingham and Coventry — but really we hope for more people from Bolton."

The minimum distance for people to take part is one length and the maximum is 50.

Mrs Ogden, aged 30, said: "Last year Rosanna was the youngest and the oldest was 80 so it really is suitable for everybody.

"We had 80 swimmers then and raised just above £4,000 — but this year we need 200 swimmers and hope to smash that amount."

To find out more, contact Mrs Ogden by emailing sanamogden@gmail.com