Blackburn skater Dena Faye Spencer is jumping for joy after securing a silver medal at the British Solo Ice Dance Championships.

The 12-year-old, who has been skating at the Blackburn Ice Arena since she was five, came second out of 40 girls from across the country in the Pre Novice Ladies event.

In what was her first national competition, Dena performed two compulsory dances and a 90-second free dance routine at iceSheffield, where she finished just three points behind the eventual winner.

The talented youngster, who has the Welsh Championships to look forward to in October, said: “Participating in my first major competition was a great experience and to finish second was better than I could ever have expected.”

The Blackburn Arena had four other skaters competing in the Championships, with Faye Hammer finishing eighth in the Junior event, Louise Smith coming ninth in the Novice category, while Emily Rose Brown and Jennifer Cairns finished ninth and 23rd respectively in the Pre Novice event.