North-west goes darts mad for Luke Littler – the boy with world at his fingers

Young players practising at St Helens Darts Academy where Luke Littler was coached from the age of nine. Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian

Dozens of teenagers have flocked to Karl Holden’s darts shop in St Helens to practise and stock up on supplies, and the small building is almost at maximum capacity.

Darts mania has swept through the Merseyside town in recent days as local sensation Luke Littler stormed to the final of the World Darts Championships at just 16 years of age.