Halesowen fan, 10, meets darts champion Luke Littler

A 10-year-old boy who met his darts idol Luke Littler said: “l’d give the day a 10 out of 10, but if I could, I would give it 100.”

Josh, from Halesowen, Dudley, was recovering from viral meningitis when he first watched Littler compete on TV, and his fascination with the player began.

He got the opportunity to meet his hero after telling Ed James from BBC Radio WM he was gutted not to get his autograph at the Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton last week.

Afterwards, Littler’s team contacted the radio station to arrange a surprise meet-and-greet. “We sat down, and I asked him a few questions. It was the best day of my life,” Josh said.

Since becoming a fan of darts, not only is Josh determined to follow in Littler’s footsteps but his maths skills has improved as he tots up the checkouts.

He got to meet Littler in London after the Paddy Power World Darts Championship draw on Friday.

“We sat down and I asked him a few questions… I felt shocked at first, but then excited,” he said.

“I got a signed set of darts, a signed shirt and he signed my original shirt.”

Mum, Lisa, said it had been hard to keep the visit a secret.

“We’d even got him dressed in his school uniform ready, thinking he’d be going to school so it was a huge surprise.

“He was more shocked he was getting the day off school,” she joked.