A MINI martial artist is preparing to fight on a world stage after following in her mother's footsteps by becoming a national taekwondo champion.

Poppy Wickens won gold at the National Championships held in Manchester, home of Team GB, after a two day competition last September.

She is now preparing to represent Great Britain in the European Presidents Cup in Germany next month.

The contest, the day after her eight birthday, will feature 1,300 competitors and for the first time in the tournament's history will include peewee classes for the best youngsters like Poppy.

The seven-year-old, from Spennymoor, said: "I'm really excited and proud.

"It is good to win.

"I want to be an Olympic champion one day."

The Ox Close Primary School pupil began training when she was just four years old and fell in love with the sports side of taekwondo, rather than demo.

She now trains three or four times a week with Chi Spennymoor Taekwondo Academy, based at Spennymoor Leisure Centre, and was one of the first children to join its Peewee scheme for the youngest talented members.

Her brother Dylan, 13, is a black belt and red belt-black tag Poppy hopes to gain her black belt soon.

Both followed mother Marissa Brown into the sport, was seven-times British champion during the 1990s.

Miss Brown said: "It has been her own decision to try it and compete, she just loves it.

"When she started competing it was at home in Spennymoor, small crowds and she took it in her stride and now loves the bigger arena.

"She is unbeaten in three years in her own weight group and has only lost about three out of 30 when she stepped up.

"She is so focussed and talented she can go far, but only if she always wants to."

Russell Shaw, Poppy's stepfather and head coach at Chi Spennymoor, said: "In Germany there will be at least eight rings, about 4,000 people in the arena and they will be long days.

"It will be the biggest competition she has ever been in and a great opportunity for her to represent club and country, along with Chi as an organisation which has satellite clubs across the region.

"She is so determined and has so much desire to win, she will just treat it as another competition and do her best to come away with something."

Anyone interested in sponsored Poppy can contact Mr Russell on 07733-438648.