Andrei Toader and Mia Linnik-Holden dance their way to the British championships

Mia Linnik-Holden and Andrei Toader

Two talented young dancers have been selected to represent the country in a national competition.

The Middleton pair, Andrei Toader and Mia Linnik-Holden, are both just 13 years old and will be the youngest on their team for the junior invitational team for the British Open 2016.

Currently the pair are the under 14 UK world champions, and have now been selected as part of three other pairs for an under 16 team match, which is to take place in Blackpool next month.

Andrei, who is originally from Romania, left his family and friends and moved to the UK to dance with Mia, with whom he is now pursuing his dancing career.

Proud mum of Mia, Maxine Holden said: “We are delighted to announce that Andrei and Mia have been selected to represent GB for the Junior invitational Team match at the British Open 2016.

“What an achievement given their age and time they have danced together. We first met Andrei when he came to watch the 2015 British open and also try out with Mia and we all watched and cheered the junior team match. At the time, we couldn't have imagined the results they would achieve.

“This is a testament to their hard work and dedication and as families we cannot put into words how proud we are of them.”

The duo, who have been dancing together since May 2015, have risen fast within the junior ballroom and Latin ranks and have become the UK Close U14 Ballroom and Latin Champions as well as the Dutch Open WDC UK U14 Ballroom and Latin Finalists, International U14 Finalists, WDC U14 World Ballroom Champions, U14 World Latin Vice Champions and British National U16 Ballroom and Latin Finalists placing third in Ballroom and fourth in Latin.

Mia started dancing at the age of six after asking her parents for lessons.

The dancing duo previously won the Classique Dance Award for Junior Rising Star and have been nominated for a Le Classique de Danse Award.

The British Open championships will take place at the end of March.