A county jiu jitsu starlet is preparing to travel to Los Angeles next week to take part in a coveted international competition.

Rory Anderson, who lives outside Dunbar, will take part in the World Junior Championships at the University of California next weekend.

The promising youngster, a pupil at Innerwick Primary School, goes into the competition with a European championship gold medal, won in Walsall late last year.

Mum Moya, who runs Anderson's Butchers with husband Ryan, admits she is "nervous already", ahead of Ryan's competition next Saturday.

Ryan, meanwhile, told Courier Sport: We're all going over for 10 days and we really can't wait.

"We would normally go on holiday about this time as a family anyway, so we've changed our plans a bit and we're heading out to watch him.

"We're really looking forward to it – the standard is going to be high and we don't know what to expect but his coach seems to have high hopes for him.

"It is an open competition but you can't just turn up on the day – you need to have a bit of a standing behind you.

It marks a remarkable first year for the Innerwick Primary pupil, who only took up the martial art 10 months ago.

And Moya praised the efforts of coach Thiago Ferreira.

He runs classes in Berwick which Rory attends with younger brothers Duncan and Oliver..

Moya added: "It's because he is so enthusiastic that the kids have got the bug."

Last year, the family told Courier Sport they were hopeful Ferreira would start sessions in the county soon.

Rory will spend six days in training ahead of the competition at the University of California, where he is due to be in action on Valentine's Day.

And mum Moya admits it could be "the best Valentine's Day ever" if her son is victorious.

She also thanked Dunbar Rotary Club and Innerwick Parish Welfare Association for their financial assistance.

"It's really kind of them – the rotary club have covered Rory's entry fee and the parish welfare association have agreed to donate a couple of hundred pounds.

"It's lovely of them, and he's done some fundraising himself so it's good that he has been involved."