A Helensburgh gymnast is flying high after qualifying for the final of a national competition.

Heather Kumari Hughes won a bronze medal at the contest in April, making her the first Scot to win a medal in the Spring Series One at the British FIG Tumbling event.

And the 10-year-old is now looking became the first Scot to win a medal at the finals in Birmingham in September.

Heather's mum Erica told the Advertiser: “She just enjoys it, so she will love it. She doesn’t even see it as a challenge, she just sees it as fun, it’s something that makes her face light up and she’s ecstatic.

“We were hoping she would come within the final 16 because them we might have got to go to the finals in Birmingham I couldn’t believe it when she got her medal.

“I was very proud. I didn’t think it would happen but her progress has been amazing.

“She has always said she wanted to fly and I guess now she is living the dream. She always says ‘look mum, I’m flying! I’m flying!’ When she’s practicing, and I think that’s why she does so well, because she loves it and it’s not me pushing her to do it.”

The dedicated Hermitage Primary pupil practices her skills four or five times a week, and Erica admitted that she sometimes needs to ask Heather to stop practicing in the house.

“She’s really excited and she’s going to try go all out,” Erica added.

“The final is where you just try your best, if you don’t land it you don’t land it. You only get about two minutes on the stage, so after about a minute and a half you know.

“You never know how it will pan out, so all you can do is your best and I think that’s what she does, she practice, practice and practices and that’s all you can do. “

Heather joined Dynamite Gymnastics in Clydebank in 2016 and her mum said they have never looked back since.

Erica said: “If you look back on what she can do now, it’s amazing. In October 2016 she could barely do one back flip and now she’s doing double somersaults and double pikes. Her progress has been incredible.”

Heather is currently competing at Federation of International Level in the 9-10 years category and is part of the GB Tumbling Pathway Foundation squad following her achievements.

In 2017, Heather also won a gold medal at the Scottish Tumble finals.

She is coached by Ellena Devitt, who is a former display gymnast, speaking about Ellena, Erica explained: “She’s a brilliant coach,” Erica added. “She used to be a display gymnast and she definitely knows what she’s doing.

“I have to put my hat off to her because she great. As a mum you get anxious thinking you don’t want your child to be disappointed, but she had total faith in her and reassured me when I was worried.”