JESSICA Worth is up at 4.30am three times a week to go figure skating.

The eight-year-old has been skating since she was five and her commitment to the sport has earned her a nomination for a Young Champions award.

Her mum, Claire Gall, said: “Jessica asked to go ice skating for her fifth birthday and she took to it straight away. A lot of children give up especially with having to wake up so early to go and train. But Jessica never complains and she has stuck to it and for that I am proud of her.

“She sets herself day-to-day goals such as landing a specific jump, getting so many rotations on a spin and has future goals of making the British team and going to the junior Olympics. She is currently on the National Ice Skating Association development programme.

“Jessica is a very loving little lady, she tries so hard at everything she does and works so hard at school, to be so dedicated and to show such discipline at such a young age I feel needs recognition, especially as it is a sport that is not recognised as much and no one realises the hard work that young ice skaters have to put in.”

Jessica’s ice skating coach Debbie Wright said: “Jessica is really talented for her age and what she has achieved is fantastic. I’ve been teaching Jessica for a year and in that time she has come on so much. Her style and level of ability is fantastic and she’s great to teach, especially for someone her age.

“We are working towards getting her into the championships next year and she is currently completing her levels which she is achieving. She is definitely one to watch for the future.”