A young chess prodigy from Thetford has secured a place with the England squad.

Jaden Jermy, 12, was invited to a two-day England Closed Competition in Reading over the weekend due to his recent performances in national competitions.

The talented Thetford Grammar School pupil needed to gain a certain number of points to guarantee a place with the under-18s squad.

Despite the pressure and the decision going down to the wire, the youngster was offered a place.

His mother, Michelle Jermy - who was unable to attend the competition because she is heavily pregnant - said she was 'really proud' of him.

'He learnt by watching YouTube videos of tutorials and reading books,' she said. 'He is now seeing it paying off.

'It has been a bit of a whirlwind. It was right down to the last game to secure his place. He had to get three points out of a possible five and one of them needed to be a draw.

'In the last game, if he didn't get a minimum of a draw he wouldn't get a place.'

Jaden started playing chess five years ago and discovered a natural aptitude for it.

He plays for three chess clubs – two in Bury St Edmunds and one in Thetford - and last April he was named most improved player at the Bury Knights Junior Chess Club.

He was invited to the closed competition following a joint-fourth finish in the London Chess Championships – during which he took on seven players of a much higher grade.

Miss Jermy said the challenge will be funding Jaden's competitions with the England squad as some of them will be played abroad and getting the youngster professional coaching.

She said: 'He will be involved in playing in Spain in August with the team so we are waiting for clarification for what is next.

'He has done so well. I don't want him to get this far and now I have to start putting restrictions in place.'

If you would like to sponsor Jaden you can email his mother Michelle Jermy at michellejermy2017@gmail.com