A five-year-old has taken one step close to biking glory after qualifying to take part in a Strider British Balance Bike championship.

Max Garner, from Wimbledon, took home bronze at the qualifying event in Gravesend, Kent on Sunday July 21.

Backed by Britain’s top BMX rider Shanaze Reade, this was the third major event of the 2013 Strider British Balance Bike Championships bringing together 70 children between 18 months and five years old to race no-pedal balance bikes across the UK's best BMX tracks.

The bikes used in the competition are designed by Strider who manufacture balance bikes with no pedals allowing even the youngest riders to have a go.

Should Max be successful at the UK final later this year, he could go on to represent Great Britain at the 2013 World Championships in Florida.

Mitcham is home to the second longest BMX track in London, after the Olympic track in Stratford.