For those extra inches in height could make life harder for the 12-year-old gymnast.

"I'm very happy as I am and just want to stay this size while I'm competing," said Laura, who recently represented Great Britain for the first time.

Laura, who also models for Milano sportswear catalogues, currently stands at 138cms and weighs 5st.

Her mum, Anne, said the extra height and weight wouldn't threaten Laura's career but it would make things tougher.

"As Laura gets older she will be fighting against her build and will have to change her moves on the bars," she said.

Laura, who attends King's School, recently finished second in the individual event against Switzerland.

She is now a step closer to fulfilling her dream of representing Britain at the Manchester Commonwealth Games and the Olympics.

This week, though, she was preparing to return to her Marthall home after a three-week holiday in France.

But mum Anne says it's not been all rest.

"She has been getting up at 7am when there's no one around to go to the running track," she said.

And she even performed for the holiday-makers at her French hotel after she was spotted stretching by the poolside.

"She can't get away from it," said Anne. "They saw her doing cartwheels and asked her to do a gymnastic display."

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