Barber proves he's a cut above as pro darts player

Ryan Meikle has been a hairdresser for the past 10 years

A professional darts player who balances the sport with his job as a barber is hoping to rise up the world rankings.

Ryan Meikle, 28, from Leiston, Suffolk, who is ranked 61 in the world, took on then 17-year-old Luke Littler just before Christmas in the PDC World Darts Championship.

While Littler took the 3-1 win, Meikle remained hungry to increase his presence in the sport while balancing his job at Nick's Gents Hairdressing in Saxmundham.

Meikle, who has been cutting hair for the past 10 years, started playing darts when he was a young child, inspired by his father.

"Obviously one day I'd love to be full-time, but I love my job here as well," he said on balancing his darts with his job.

"That's not something I just want to give up that easy because I still enjoy it."

He said he aimed to practise darts "a few hours every day" and it was "handy having a board" at work for quiet moments.

Meikle said he was aiming to make the "next step" by progressing further in competitions and championships.

"I feel like I can maybe get top 32 [in the world] and you are earning big money then," he added.

Meikle says he tries to get his practice in during quiet hours at work

Meikle gave Littler a tough game in December, which Littler himself admitted was a "fight until the end".

"I think going into it I was really relaxed," he explained.

"I was chilled and I think I showed I play quite well... then obviously in the last set he made it impossible for me to win.

"I was happy I pushed him and gave him a good game."

Meikle is grateful for the support his work has given him for his darts career

Meikle added that it was "incredible" that 10 minutes before their match, Littler enjoyed a portion of chips.

"He was just so chilled - 'I'm just a bit hungry' - just on his phone eating some chips 10 minutes before we're about to play," he said.

He added it had been "crazy" to see the sport's popularity skyrocket with younger generations since Littler's rise to fame.

Meikle's own six-year-old son was even attempting to play now, he said.