JUNIOR dancer Maddy McDonagh is following in her mother’s footsteps by getting her hands on a trophy in a national competition.

Maddy, seven, pictured, was one of hundreds of youngsters from across the UK taking part in the Diva Divo dance contest at The Spa venue in Bridlington, East Yorkshire, at the weekend.

The Woodstock Primary School pupil picked up a trophy after getting through to the final six in the under-eight freestyle contemporary section.

She said: “I was nervous and excited and it was great to get a trophy. Now I want to start training again for next year.”

It’s not surprising Maddy’s moves on the dance floor have been applauded by judges as her mum, Kelly-Jayne Poulter, 35, runs Flair Dance Studio, based at the Oxford Academy.

Mrs Poulter, who lives in Woodstock with Maddy, husband Thomas McDonagh, 39, and son Finlay, five, said: “I’m more than proud of Maddy and she is definitely following in her mother’s footsteps.

“I competed from the age of seven and I won many dance titles, but Maddy is better than me.

“I won a trip to New York when I was 18 to train for a week at the Broadway dance centre.”