A nine-year-old gymnast from Siddington has finished fifth in her age group in the whole of the country.

Lottie Morris, of Bowly Crescent, took part in the English Gold Cup Tumbling Championships at Sheffield earlier this month and finished in fifth place in the aged 9-10 girls’ competition.

Lottie, who is now classed as an 'elite gymnast', first took up the discipline at the age of five when she joined Tetbury Gymnastics Club.

Her mother Marie said: “She was such a hyper child - always on the move – and, as a parent, I knew she needed to be doing something so we tried gymnastics!

"She absolutely loved it, and she was good at it, and within two weeks she was in the club’s competition squad!

“She did her first competition in Bath when she was still just five and, by the age of six, she had started winning medals and she hasn’t looked back! She initially tried artistic gymnastics but she really loved tumbling so that’s what she did!”

Tumbling is a gymnastics discipline in which competitors perform multiple moves and skills along a 25-metre spring track with only feet and hands allowed to make contact with the track.

Lottie’s fifth place finish means she is now eligible to compete at the British Tumbling Championships which take place at Birmingham Arena at the end of September.

Lottie, who attends Rodmarton Primary School, travels to Basingstoke Gymnastics Club to train five times a week.

She said: “It is hard work and tiring and does mean that I miss quite a few lessons but the school has been so supportive and allows me to take the time out for training and competitions.

"I take my school work with me and do it in the car while we’re driving.”

Mum Marie added: “It is full on and we spend a lot of time in the car! Thankfully my partner and my family are incredibly supportive and help with the costs – and the driving! We’ll keep doing it as long as Lottie wants to carry on. We’re all so proud of how well she’s doing.”

When she’s not training or competing, Lottie still keeps herself busy and enjoys cake baking and rock climbing amongst other things.

She also supports charities including the Stroke Association, after her uncle had a stroke two years ago, and she recently donated some of her hair to the Little Princess Trust which provides real hair wigs for children and young people with hair loss.

And now Lottie has had a taste of success, there’s no stopping her.

“It was amazing when I realised I’d finished fifth, I was so happy,” she said. “I’d love to compete at the European Championships and even the World Championships. It’s my ultimate dream to become a world champion!”

Rodmarton Primary School head teacher Caroline Musty said: “We are thrilled for Lottie. She is a very talented gymnast and an equally hardworking pupil. We are very proud to support her participation in training and competition.”