A seven-year-old girl from north-west London has become one of the youngest in the UK to achieve black belt grade in taekwondo.

Matilde Ombigah Luis, from Colindale, took up the sport when she was three and achieved black belt grade earlier this month.

The taekwondo prodigy, who will not celebrate her eighth birthday until September, trains at nearby London Taekwondo Warriors and attends St Robert Southwell Catholic in Kingsbury.

Her mother, Roop Luis, believes Matilde is the youngest in the UK to reach black belt level.

She said: “This is a big achievement for a seven-year-old. It will be good for other young Londoners to follow a positive path and get motivated.

“Matilde has been practising hard, even during the lockdown. She is the youngest in her class and is very dedicated.”

She added that Matilde has high hopes for what she can achieve in the future, including dreams of representing Great Britain in the Olympics.

Despite reaching black belt grade, for now, Matilde must wear a black and red belt due to her young age.

However, upon turning 15 she will automatically be able to wear a black belt.