A TRIO of Wiltshire athletes are due to get their Paralympic campaigns in Rio under way later on Thursday.

A hectic 12 days of competition is getting started in Brazil, with Corsham swimmer Stephanie Millward preparing to launch into her action-packed programme over the next week and a half.

The 34-year-old five-time Paralympic medallist could take on as many as seven events in Rio, including relays, with the first of those, the S8 women’s 400m freestyle, beginning with the heats on Thursday lunchtime.

The final follows later tonight, while Trowbridge’s Aaron Moores is also tasting action on the first day in the pool.

The 22-year-old, who now trains in Swansea, won a silver medal in the men’s S14 100m backstroke at London 2012 and is starting his bid to go one better in the event today, with the final again tonight.

Also in action on the first evening will be Urchfont teenager Polly Maton as the athletics programme gets under way.

Sixteen-year-old Maton, who won a surprise call-up for Rio, is due to contest the women’s T47 long jump final later tonight.

Anne Dunham’s para-dressage competition gets under way on Monday.