Halstead cycle ace Freia Challis will sport a coveted world finalist plate on her bike for the next year after finishing fifth in her age group at the 2015 UCI BMX World Championships at Zolder in Belgium.

The seven-year-old Braintree Bullets rider, who is a pupil at St Andrew’s Primary School in Halstead, impressed in the early rounds in the five to seven year girls’ class against the best youngsters in the world.

And despite a tumble while leading in the final she picked herself up to finish fifth and claim the W5 plate for the next 12 months.

Her father , Tony, said: “She was a bit disappointed at first, but is very happy that she will now have the W5 plate on her bike.

“She won everything – in all her moto heats, the quarter-final and the semi-final and she was leading the final for two-and-a-half straights.

“She was out in front by three to four bike lengths and was the fastest girl there, but she had a little wobble and came off.

“She got straight back up, though, and managed to get fifth.

“She was disappointed to start with, but she is really pleased now.

“She handled herself so well and it was such a long day for her.

“We’re extremely proud of her.”