'I can solve a Rubik's Cube in seven seconds'

A woman will be competing against others to solve a Rubik's Cube as quickly as possible when an event is held later this month.

Emily Marshall, 19, said there was "a wonderful community" around speed cubing, which she got into just under two years ago after seeing a YouTube video.

On 28 and 29 September, the UK Cube Association will host a speed cubing competition at Lutterworth College in Leicestershire.

Ms Marshall said her fastest Rubik's Cube solve at home was in seven seconds, and she had registered a time of nine seconds at a recent competition.

Emily Marshall says she has about 30 Rubik's Cubes at home

Ms Marshall, from Kirby Muxloe in Leicestershire, described speed cubing as "the process of solving a cube as quickly as you possibly can, optimising the solves, learning algorithms and just getting yourself down to the lowest [time] you can".

When asked what drew her to speed cubing, she said: "I saw a YouTube video and just got sucked in.

"It's a wonderful community full of so many people full of passion for it.

"Especially the competitions, you just want to go back more and more."

Ms Marshall has travelled to Italy, France, Spain, Germany and South Korea to take part in speed cubing events.

As well as the standard three by three by three speed cubing, competitors also battle to quickly solve cubes either one-handed or blindfolded.

There are also different shapes to solve, including pyramids and dodecahedrons, and larger cubes that go up to seven by seven by seven.

Ms Marshall said she used computer-generated algorithms to make sure the cubes were "completely random", before solving them.