Local young Muay Thai sensation Lucas Smith had more than one reason to celebrate last week.

Not only did Lucas turn eight, he was crowned the new British Celtic Thai champion after winning a four-man tournament in Manchester.

The young fighter, a pupil at Pudsey Tyersal Primary School, has made such an impact in the sport that he has earned a sponsor, with designershirt.com paying for all his fight clothes.

Lucas’s coach, two-time British champion Lee Nags, believes his future looks bright.

“Lucas Smith is destined for great things. He is a future world champion,” said Nags, who trains Lucas at his West Leeds Muay Thai gym in Pudsey.

He added: “He’s just got such a natural ability for the sport and is an all-round great kid.

“He’s just so naturally fast and technically gifted.

“I can’t speak highly enough of him because he gets great results in the gym and at school, so there’s nothing bad that I can say about him.”