A children's swimming school has set up an annual prize of a year's free lessons in the memory of a former pupil who died aged just nine months.

Puddle Ducks, which runs classes for children aged four and under, has set up Oliver Steeper’s Gift of Swimming to remember the tragic tot who died in September after he choked on food at Jelly Beans Day Nursery in Ashford.

Oliver took swimming lessons with Puddle Ducks, and his mum Zoe Steeper also teaches for the company.

The Gift of Swimming prize will be awarded to one child every year following a random draw, and the winner will get their lessons for free.

"Oliver had been there numerous times, pretty much from birth, when he was six-weeks-old," his dad Lewis Steeper said.

"Completely unknown to us, they said they're going to provide swimming lessons every year for a child, fully funded by them, in the memory of Oliver.

"We're absolutely honoured. It's such a surprise and it means everything to us that his name is still there, he's not just forgotten about.

"It's an incredible gesture and we're eternally thankful for it."

Oliver was being looked after at Jelly Beans Day Nursery when he became unable to breathe while eating and was taken to hospital. He died six days later.

The nursery in Field View, Kingsnorth, where he choked was closed down within weeks of the tragedy.

Kent Police has subsequently confirmed that an investigation into the circumstances is ongoing.

Announcing the Gift of Swimming prize on its Facebook page, Puddle Ducks said: "We are going to give one child the gift of free swimming lessons for the rest of the year, funded by us at Puddle Ducks.

"This has never been done before and will be ongoing, every year, to remember what a wonderful, bubbly, special little boy Oliver was.

"Whilst nothing will take the pain away of losing a child, we hope that this brings some comfort to Oliver's family each year.

"Oliver will always be a part of us at Puddle Ducks and will never be forgotten."

To find out more about Oliver Steeper's Gift of Swimming and how to enter, click here