A 16-year-old has become the UK’s strongest schoolgirl – and says her success is thanks to a joint condition that used to cause her agonising pain.

Laresce Browne, from Eccles, Manchester, has six British and World Champion powerlifting records under her belt – yet until just two years ago a condition called hypermobility left her in so much pain she was unable to take part in sport.

Rather than let her condition limit her life, Laresce took inspiration from her weight-lifting father, Adam, 39, and began pumping iron.

This put an end to her pain and she became champion in her field.

She now holds a UK record for deadlifting more than twice her own bodyweight after lifting 105kg.

She can also bench press her own bodyweight of 50kg (7st 12lbs).

From birth, Laresce’s toes and knees grew inward and doctors diagnosed her with metatarsus varus, commonly known as pigeon toe.

The condition means her feet turned inwards.

It usually corrects itself by the age of eight or nine and does not require treatment.