SHE has stepped and clicked her way to the top - practicing for more than eight hours a week.

Teenager Sophie Parris has been named the world's best under-14 female tap dancer - despite a leg injury.

The 13-year-old from Hedge End represented England in the prestigious Dance World Cup in Jersey - beating up to 4,000 competitors from 36 countries for the title and helping England scoop top place.

But she was almost unable to take part at all after tearing two ligaments in her ankle during a PE lesson just two weeks before.

The Wildern Schoolgirl quickly began a treatment plan and went on stage despite advice that she should rest her leg.

The youngster has been dancing since she was three-years-old but only began competing in dance competitions three years ago.

Since then she has won 42 medals and 15 trophies and also been named most promising dancer by judges.

But her latest achievement has topped them all.

Sophie said: "I thought I wouldn't be able to do it because of my ankle but I wanted to make myself do it anyway because it was important.

"I just couldn't believe it. I was thrilled when I found out I had won.

"When I'm about to go on stage it feels really scary but once I'm on there it's the best thing ever.

"When I'm older I would like to be in dance shows, maybe in the West End and maybe when I have experience from that I might have my own dance school."

Her mum Donna Sinclair, 50, who works as a hairdresser, added: "A week before we left, which is two weeks before she was going to go on stage she had an accident in PE at school.

"We took her to a sports injury therapist who said she had torn two ligaments.

"It was a chance of a lifetime. She was a bit upset thinking she might not be able to do it but she managed.

"She's always dancing. She's either dancing at dance class, dancing around the house or she's talking about dancing.

"She owes her success to her great dance teachers because they choreograph all of her dances."

Sophie has five dance lessons a week after school with Yasmin Taylor Academy of Dance in Warsash and Abigail Talmondt Academy of Dance in Portsmouth.

Tap is her favourite dance but she also performs in classical Greek, modern and jazz styles.