A HOTSHOT BMX racer has been crowned the best in the country for her age group.

Emie Seward, 8, from Millom, triumphed at the British BMX championships held in Blackpool.

She beat eight others to take the trophy in the Female 8 category for 8-year-olds., the second year running she has been crowned national champion.

And the win comes as the latest success for Emie in a bumper year.

In July she came second at the European championships in Sarrians, France, and finished fourth in the world championships in Azerbaijan in June.

Mum Karen Seward praised her superstar daughter for her “driven” attitude and said her daughter would go to the very top of her sport.

Mrs Seward, of Devonshire Road, said: “There was a lot of pressure on Emie to win again this year but she managed to deliver.

“She has worked so hard and stepped up her training to make sure she won because she is so driven.

“It is absolutely amazing what she has managed to achieve. I am really pleased for her."

Mrs Seward said Emie already had her sights on being the best.

She said: "She is so ambitious and wants to go right to the top when she is older.

"She said she wants to be the champion of the world."

Emie trains around four times a week and travels once a week to train with a coach at Coppull in Lancashire.

The racing prodigy goes to Haverigg Primary School and Mrs Seward said her daughter had received a lot of support from teachers and friends.

"The school have been very supportive in letting her be away from school to go to competitions, " she said.

"She took the trophy into school and all her friends are in awe of her. They think she amazing and know how dedicated she is to racing."