THE East End’s own reigning national 400m hurdles champion and Olympic 2012 hopeful Perri Shakes Drayton helped a train operator celebrate its own record-breaking success when she visited Fenchurch Street Station yesterday.

Perri, who was born and bred in the East End and still lives in Bow, joined National Express operator c2c staff at the station in the City of London yesterday morning after it was announced the company, which runs the line from Fenchurch Street, through Limehouse to Essex, has set a new punctuality record of almost 99 per cent.

Former Bishop Challoner pupil Perri, 21, said: “This is a terrific achievement. Like all athletes on the international stage I am always striving to improve my performance and exceed my personal best - and I know just what hard work and dedication it takes to achieve it.”

Perri is the reigning national 400m hurdle champion and hopes to represent Great Britain on her home turf at the 2012 Olympic Games.

She is also a European Double Bronze Medallist, European Under 23 Champion and European Junior Silver Medallist.

Julian Drury, managing director of c2c said: “Perri is a hero in our part of east London, where she lives. Not only is she the reigning National 400m hurdle champion, but she also helped the British athletics team smash a British record.”