A DERBYSHIRE canoeist has put her dreams of becoming a mum on ice so that she can go for gold in the London Olympics.

Helen Barnes, who is originally from Ripley, has decided to have her eggs frozen until after the Games in 2012 so she can concentrate on winning a medal.

The 36-year-old told a national newspaper that she had already started the £2,500 treatment with fertility specialists CAREfertility.

She told the Sunday tabloid: "I know some people think egg freezing should only be for cancer sufferers so they don't lose their chance of having a child. But I can freeze my eggs now and put children to the back of my mind."

The part-time teacher was left heartbroken after missing out on a place in the Beijing Olympics after failing to make the required placing at the European Slalom Championships in May.

Helen, who is currently single, needed to finish in the top two in the event but crashed out in the semi-finals after picking up a 50-second penalty for missing a gate.

She now has her sights set on London 2012 – then finding a partner so she can pursue her dream of having children.

She told the Sunday paper: "You can freeze eggs for up to 10 years, so I won't have to rush to find the right person.

"My mum supports me in this and I know I'll be a brilliant mum too."

Helen, who now lives in Nottingham, first started canoeing when she was 16 years old after trying the sport on holiday.

She joined Matlock Canoe Club before basing her training at Holme Pierrepont in Nottinghamshire.

Helen competes in canoe slalom races, where participants have to guide their canoe between poles.

Staff at CAREfertility were involved in the conception of the very first IVF baby in 1978.

Egg freezing usually involves costly and invasive IVF treatment.

The eggs are collected and then frozen but the process is not always successful, with low pregnancy rates.

In addition to the costs of the initial surgery, women wanting to freeze eggs will also have to pay an annual storage cost.