BEN Knight may only be seven years old but he's one tough cookie.

And he is not on his own.

Ben and his pals Hayley Hardman, 14, Natalie Wilson, 15, Damian Halshaw, 15, and James Barker, 17, are a force to be reckoned with as champion kickboxers.

And the group have been selected to go the World Kickboxing Championships in Sicily in November.

But despite their tough appearance they need your help to get there. The youngsters need to raise £3,000 to pay for their trip as they get no grants or funding from the Government.

They train at Haslingden Sports Centre twice a week under the watchful eye of coach Bob Laughland and his assistant John Johnstone.

Bob said: "To cover all our expenses we need to raise about £3,000. This is just typical of the attitude in Britain. The four of them all pay to compete in competitions up and down the country week-in, week-out.

"But when they win the honour of being selected to compete against the best in the world, they have to fund that as well.

"We are trying to raise the full £3,000, but the youngsters know that if we don't get it all they will have to pay towards the trip themselves."

The youngsters are due to go to the WUNA championships in Sicily in November.

"They had originally been chosen to go to the World Kickboxing Association competition in Prague, but missed out because the Czech Republic doens't allow junior fighters.

Bob said: "The sport is a kind of mix between karate and boxing.

"It is semi-contact -- it is more about skill and technique than power and the competitiors aren't allowed to knock anyone out or they get disqualified."

The team has already had some donations from local companies and Christine Young, landlady of the Moulders Arms in Waterfoot, has planned a charity fun day on Sunday August 27 to help the group.

If anybody can help the youngsters then contact Bob on 01706 228446.