A MARTIAL arts coach in Blackpool has praised his students for their kickboxing and karate success.

Rob Campbell, chief coach at Blackpool Budokan, said students Jonathan Campbell-Taylor, Jordan Smith and Reece Lomas turned in "tremendous" performances at the world karate and kickboxing championships in Vienna, Austria this summer.

Jonathan, 10, from Preesall, won a bronze medal in his kickboxing class, as did 11-year-old Jordan from Thornton.

Fellow student Reece, nine, was also a winner. Rob said: "Reece was in great form, dominating his opponents until he received a low kick in the semi-final, forcing his withdrawal with a hard-earned bronze medal."

Another student, Dale Noble, 16, narrowly missed out after a controversy over rules meant his two-minute fight was drawn out to seven minutes. Despite an official protests by the British coach, Dale lost to his German opponent.

The youngsters, all students at Blackpool Budokan Martial Arts academy, qualified for the World Karate Association British team in February. They joined around 1800 participants for the event in August at Austria's national sports complex.