Ingrow girl Charlie Rawson (pictured) goes into battle next week as one of the stars of the new 13-part Channel 5 TV series Combat Club.

The 11-year-old Oakbank School student is one of six youngsters who spent the summer living in a castle while learning martial arts skills. Members of the group were taught styles such as fencing, sumo wrestling, karate, stage fighting, kickboxing and Viking and Roman fighting techniques.

At the end of each day's lessons -- making up one episode each -- the best two students tried out their new skills against each other. Charlie, of Staveley Road, was in the final pair in at least six episodes and came last -- suffering a forfeit -- on only one occasion.

Charlie's mother Tracy, who stayed with her during the three weeks and two weekends of filming, said the children had to go "head-to-head" after spending just one morning learning each new style.

Tracy said: "All the other kids were picked from martial arts clubs -- she was picked from dance and acrobatics. She hadn't done any martial arts before."

Charlie particularly enjoyed being a Roman gladiator and sumo wrestler, with 22-stone instructor Fat Jackie saying she was a natural sumo competitor.

The series, which will be screened on Saturdays at noon from October 2, aims to combine history with fun while developing the participants' self-discipline.