Daniel Northcote marked his seventh year as a karate king by being awarded his 1st Dan at the county’s gradings in Truro.

For the 15-year-old, a member of the Liskeard-based Doryoku-Ryu-Karate-Jutsu Club, it was reward for the many hours of training he has put in.

Daniel, who has already won four county titles, now plans to prepare to get his 2nd Dan in two years’ time. He said: ‘I’m very pleased to have got my 1st Dan because karate has become my life.’

His dad, Michael, said: ‘Me and his mum Jenny are so proud of Daniel. He has worked incredibly hard to achieve this, including six hours a week of training.

‘I drive him around to the various venues where he competes and it is time consuming but it is all worth it when you see him doing so well.’