WITH Michael Smith flying the flag for St Helens in the World Darts Championship final, plenty of youngsters are looking to follow in his footsteps as an academy for youngsters continues to thrive.

The St Helens Darts Academy had to issue an SOS call three years ago after its premises at Our Lady's Club in Parr shut down but is now "going from strength to strength" as it celebrates its fifth anniversary.

Now based at Sidac club in Sutton Leach, the academy sees 50 youngsters regularly turning up to play darts in the three sections: Ages eight to 13; Elite under 14s and Age 18 or under.

The juniors have received inspiration from some of the game's top professionals with visits from St Helens' Michael smith, Dave Chisnall, Stephen Bunting and Alan Tabern.

Others to have dropped by include Darryl Fitton; Alan Norris; World Champion Youth player Josh Richardson and dad James, and Jamie Caven who told his story of how he became a darts player despite having one eye and diabetes.

The academy has also seen a Sky TV Channel do a recording as well as with BBC North West with two appearances on Blue Peter and Radio Merseyside.

The academy has had 13 players representing Lancashire Youth, with 11 of them played matches on stage and currently has three children in the top 50 England youth ranked players.

Around eight girls play, with one, Danni Lee Platt, representing the Premier division Lancashire adult team, and Lancashire Youth Captain Eleanor Cairns qualifying for the Winmau World Youth Masters and Abbie Singleton playing for Lancashire Youth.

Secretary Karl Holden said: "We also have had children with learning difficulties and other issues but darts holds no barriers and in the next few weeks we are adding the Darts Connect to the academy.

"This is used by the PDC at the highest level. It tracks every throw every player has ever thrown, records averages, 180s, least checkouts and makes the scoring quicker, so the kids can play darts a little longer. We really are going from strength to strength."