A WORLE grandfather shot to the top of his class and became a world champion in his field at a prestigious international competition.

George Parsons, of Atholl Close, won gold in his class at the world clay pigeon shooting championships in France.

The 68-year-old retired heating engineer has shot for Great Britain in competitions 14 times and once for England and beat about 160 other shooters to take home his latest medal.

George, who is a member of Brook Bank Shooting School in Rodney Stoke, also won the Sportsman Of The Year Award from The Clay Shooting Magazine two years ago.

The grandfather-of-one took up clay pigeon shooting 44 years ago.

He said: “I lived on a farm, I think my family encouraged me to take it up to get me out the way.

“It’s a very social sport.”