Chatham skier Charlotte Evans helped earn the first British gold medal in Winter Paralympic history after guiding Kelly Gallagher to glory in Sochi.

The 22-year-old and her partner, from Northern Ireland, claimed first place in the visually impaired Super-Giant slalom at the Rosa Khutor Alpine Ski Centre in the southern Russia resort on Monday morning.

The pair bounced back from a disappointing start in the event with a magnificent time of 28.72 seconds to claim top spot, and recover from the disappointment of finishing last in thre downhill event on Saturday.

Gallagher said: "I have to thank Charlotte for getting me to the line. We just threw ourselves at it. I prayed for the strength to ski and have fun."

Evans added: "I was yelling a lot and she wasn't doing what I told her, but finally it paid off. It didn't feel as good as we wanted to on the course, but who cares, we won a gold medal and it feels amazing."

The pair have skied as a pair for more than three years and claimed silver and bronze medals at the 2011 and 2013 World Championships.

Canterbury teenager Millie Knight, 15, who carried the GB flag at the opening ceremony on Sunday, will take-on Gallagher and Evans in the visually-impaired slalom and giant slalom on Friday and Sunday.