A TEN-YEAR-OLD from Richmond has qualified for the finals of the World Irish Dancing Championship in Belfast next year.

Frances Finn has been Irish dancing since she was six and won the North-East under-12s qualifying round of the competition, in Gateshead earlier this month.

Dancers from the US, Australia, Ireland and England will travel to the championships, which take place in April.

Frances belongs to the Clann na Ngael club and spends up to eight hours a week practising, dividing her time between Alison Watson's classes, in Catterick, and Barbara Slater's, in Newcastle.

Her mother, Liz, said: "We are so proud of her and she is really looking forward to the finals. She went to the finals in Killarney last year but she only came fifth and we were very awe-inspired by the competition.

"This year we will know a bit better what to expect."