Bermudian Vanessa James became Britain?s first black figure skating champion over the weekend.

Vanessa, whose twin sister Melyssa also excels at the sport, was the favourite to take the title in Sheffield, England, following the withdrawal of three-time defending champion Jenna McCorkell, who suffered a back injury.

Canadian-born James, 18, who lives in the United States but has a Bermudian father, skated to ?Paint it Black?.

In the run-up to the competition, she so impressed British officials in test events this season that they suggested she enter the championship at senior instead of junior level as originally planned.

Now Vanessa is hoping to bring Melyssa, who is searching for an ice dance partner, over to Britain to compete.

For the first time in the UK the championships saw the controversial, and expensive, new judging system adopted to counter the scandal at the last Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City.

However, the National Ice Skating Association were unable to afford the sophisticated electronic scoreboard and replay system which is used in international events to assist officials in their assessments of skaters? performances.