A MARTIAL arts duo have become a roaring success by winning a national Chinese lion dancing competition for the third year running.

Kung fu masters Steven Burton and Dave Eccles, from Blackburn, competed against teams from across the country to claim the title at the British Lion Dancing Championships.

Most lion dancers are martial arts experts. Steven, 35, of Eckersley Close, and Dave, 27, of Wasdale Avenue, are fourth degree black sashes in kung fu and run the Northern Dragon Martial Arts Academy, Dale Street, Accrington.

Lion dancing is an ancient Chinese tradition, believed to ward off evil and bring good luck. Performers don colourful costumes to act as the legs of the lion as it leaps and dances in time to the beating of drums.

Steven said: "I have been training in kung fu for 25 years and the lion dance is a dramatic interpretation of the moves we learn.

"About four years ago we got sponsorship and were able to buy our own lion costume.

"Since then we have performed at Chinese New Year, business openings and we have been asked to open the Arts in the Park festival."

The pair were also joined by Steven's wife Helen and Dave's partner Jessica Wilkinson, of Blackburn, and Stuart Agars, of Harrogate, who played the cymbals, drum and gong at the annual competition, in Birmingham.

Steven said: "The first year we did a lot of acrobatic stuff, lots of stunts and leaping around onto tables and chairs, bounding around. Then people started to copy our tricks so we are always having to come up with new stuff."

Steven has also competed in international martial arts competitions abroad and won a gold medal at a tai chi event in China in 2004.

"I have spent a lot of time in China and have seen how the lion dance can bring people together," he explained. "It's important to continue traditions, even if they are not directly our own."