An 11-year-old gymnast has won gold after representing the UK in an international competition.

Larni Shulton, of West Hatch High School in High Road, Chigwell, impressed judges with her beam routine, which saw her beat gymnasts from Malta, Holland, Belgium, Germany and Jersey, when she competed in the DHA International competition in Colchester on Sunday (April 12).

The Chigwell schoolgirl, who has been training as a gymnast since the age of four, came third overall with high scores in her vault, bars and floor routines.

She said: "I train for 18 hours a week.

"Being with my friends is one of the best things as well as being able to do a lot of cool skills.

“I like the strengthening side of the sport which is strange because a lot of people don’t like that.

“I knew I had done well; I’d had a solid competition, it was just really amazing to win.

"I didn’t expect it.”