An eight-year-old girl from Stevenage has finished as runner-up in a global dance championship.

Elvie Sands, who lives in the Old Town, was participating in the WIDA Irish Dancing World Championships, held this year in Liège in Belgium.

It was Elvie's first time competing at the championships, taking part in the youngest Open category of Irish Dance.

She competed in three soft shoe dances, judged by five adjudicators. In both solo rounds, Elvie brought home gold medals, while she won the runner-up trophy for the overall Under Eight Championship.

A pupil at St Vincent de Paul Catholic Primary School in Stevenage, Elvie trains with the Toibreacha-Brennan Academy of Irish Dance, based in Potters Bar, under Jenny Brennan and Conor Wells.

The Academy had eight dancers taking part in the championships, bringing home five World Globes between them.