An eight-year-old boy from Bradford has become the youngest ever member of the Taekwondo School of Excellence to achieve black-belt status.

Emmot Finch, a pupil at Menston Primary School, successfully completed the two-hour grading session at the Taekwondo Association of Great Britain’s headquarters in Bristol before being presented with the belt and a certificate at Victoria Hall in Shipley.

He said: “I am so happy to get my black belt. I decided I wanted to become a black belt when I got my green belt, and when I was looking up to the black belts in our practice sessions.

“I can now help other people learn their patterns and step sparring, and I am happy that I am teaching people and I enjoy this.

"The five tenants of Taekwondo are good examples of how to behave in life, especially self control, perseverance and integrity.”

The youngster started doing Taekwondo when he was five and follows his older sister Kezia and father Chris, who achieved their black belts 12 months and six months earlier respectively, while younger brother Ashton and mother Linda are still working their way towards the goal.