A SALE teenager is kicking her way to the top in Thai boxing.

Sixteen-year-old Dakota Ditcheva is the current junior British and European champion, having previously bagged gold in the Junior World Championships in Turkey in 2013 and Malaysia in 2014.

She will represent the UK again at the World Championships in Thailand in August.

She recently trained and competed in Phuket in Thailand and claimed a first round victory.

And she is now rapidly rising up the adult British rankings, having recently beaten the fourth ranked fighter in the country at the biggest show in the UK, the Main Event, held at the Barclaycard Arena in Birmingham.

Trafford College student Dakota trains at Northern Spirit Muaythai, based at Sale West Youth Centre, where her mum, Lisa Howarth, is the instructor.

Dakota is dedicated to her sport. She trains six days a week, often twice a day, in pursuit of her aim to become a professional fighter, competing across the world.

Mum Lisa said: "I am very proud of her."