A YOUNG skating superstar has looped, salchowed and axelled her way to international glory

Eleven-year-old Lucia Dearden from Bury, headed to Fasano in Italy where for the fourth year running she represented Great Britain at the World Inline Skating Championships.

Lucia, who has only been skating for 14 months, achieved a personal best points score in a beautifully confident programme and helped her team secure an impressive haul of medals.

The young athlete is a member of Silver Blades Altrincham Inline Skating Team who joined almost 350 skaters from across the globe, including 22 from team GB, as they descended on the southern Italian town.

Ahead of the competition the team attended the elaborate opening ceremony in Fasano’s main square which saw each country’s skater’s enter the plaza behind their nation’s flag.

They then enjoyed a remarkable retelling of Italian history through the mediums of music and dance.

This year marked a hugely successful competition for the Silver Blades who returned with four new world champions, who took gold in their respective categories, plus five silver and one bronze medallist.

The Altrincham team also won bronze in the team category finishing closely behind winners Russia and second place Ireland.

Silver Blades’ head coach Donna McCarthy said she was thrilled with the results, adding: “Each and every skater should be very proud of what they have achieved.

“They worked hard and impressed everyone with their performance and their team spirit”