A SEVEN-year-old boy has his sights set on the World Irish Dancing Championships after being named the best dancer of his age in the north west.

Nicholas Kou, a member of the Robinson Downey Academy of Irish Dance in Orford, was named under eights north west champion at the North West Regional Championships of Irish Dance last month.

The seven-year-old, from Cadishead, started dancing at the age of four and has become the school’s first championship winner.

He beat off competition from a number of other talented Irish dancers from across the region during the event, which was held in Oldham in December, to claim the title.

While winning at the competition secures a place in the World Irish Dancing Championships, Nicholas is as of yet too young to qualify but is aiming to do so next year.

Nicholas had previously competed in the under eights category at the North West Regional Championships of Irish Dance, finishing fifth last year.

But after another 12 months of training, he managed to win the under eights title and is now preparing to compete in the under 10s category at the world championships in the near future.

Nicola Robinson teaches Nicholas at the academy, which is based at the Warrington Irish Club on Orford Lane and offers classes for youngsters from the age of four and up.

She said: “From a young age Nicholas showed lots of potential, with the teachers of the school always hopeful he would progress to becoming a champion.

“This recently became reality when Nicholas competed in the North West Regional Championships of Irish Dance.

“The competition brings together the north west’s finest Irish dancers, where hundreds of children compete to secure a place at the World Irish Dancing Championships.

“We are all very proud of Nick and how much he has improved, and look forward to seeing him prosper in 2018 and beyond.

“Whether you compete or you don’t, Irish dancing is a great way of socialising as well as keeping fit.”