Doctors have told Oxford triathlon star Emma-Kate Lidbury she could be out of action for weeks after suffering a suspected broken right foot.

Last month, the Oxford Mail reporter battled through the pain barrier with what was thought to be just a muscle tear to win a top 10 place in the World Triathlon Championships in Switzerland.

Ms Lidbury, 26, represented Great Britain at the championships in Lausanne, and was delighted to finish eighth in the women's 25 to 29 age group in a time of two hours, 28 minutes and 15 seconds.

She was in second position at the end of the bike ride, but the foot injury held her back in the run, and she finished eighth overall.

Now, following a series of X-rays, Ms Lidbury has been told she may have suffered a stress fracture and has been advised to suspend her training programme.

Ms Lidbury, from Jericho in Oxford, said: "I knew I was carrying some kind of foot injury when I went into the race in Lausanne, but I didn't realise how serious it was.

"I had great plans for a hard winter's training, but I have been forced to sit down and revise those plans because of the injury.

"It now looks like I won't be running this side of Christmas, which is hugely frustrating, but is something I have to cope with.

"Fortunately, I'm still able to swim, cycle and do gym work, but I miss being able to run through the streets of Oxford."

Ms Lidbury has been referred to the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington where they have a specialist sports injury clinic.

She is also considering private consultations, to speed up the treatment programme.

The triathlete has been warned that if she resumes training too early she could permanently damage her foot.

"Earlier in the season I knew something was wrong but I was so determined to do well in Lausanne that I didn't see the warning signs," she said.

Ms Lidbury said she would resume light training next month with a view to getting fully fit in the new year.