British Swimming has axed Stockport's Metro Swimming Club from its network of intensive training centres (ITC).

In a statement, the governing body said the decision was made following "thorough analysis" of the ITC network, forced on by a £3.7m reduction in UK Sport funding for swimming announced in December.

The funding cut - affecting the Rio 2016 Olympic cycle - was brought on by the disappointing performance by Team GB swimmers at the London 2012 Olympics.

The axing of Metro from the network leaves the north of England without an ITC as the four surviving programmes are based in Stirling (Scotland), Loughborough, Bath and Swansea.

British Swimming CEO David Sparkes added: "It is with great reluctance that the British Swimming Board, after a careful review of all five ITCs, has decided not to renew the contract with Stockport. We will now be looking at innovative ways in which we can support Stockport as a club going forward to build on the tremendous tradition that the club has of producing world class athletes.

"With significant budget cuts it has been necessary to look across the sport at savings and, while we've achieved considerable cost reductions in a number of areas already, it was inevitable that we would have to focus our more limited resources and operate with fewer ITCs."