TEENAGE karate star Cain Canning has won a surprise call-up to the senior England team.

Cain, 18, who has just left Holy Family School, was in his first week at Huddersfield University when he got the urgent call to join the England squad.

He has joined clubmate, Paul Newby, at a training camp in Lanzarotte for 10 days of training before heading straight to the Karate World Championships which are being held in Munich, Germany.

Cain has studied karate since he was seven years of age, training with his father, Brian, who was also his coach in the early years.

In January he trained with the national junior squad before taking part in the European Junior Championships.

"He impressed the coaches at the Junior Championships, and also took part in selection sessions with the national squad earlier this year, but his call-up came completely out of the blue.

"Another member of the team had to pull out when he suffered an injured jaw and Cain got the call.

"Fortunately the University authorities have been very helpful and have encouraged him to go to the competition. It is great opportunity," Brian said.