A CRANE operator at a Teesside logistics business switched his attention from high driving to high kicks to raise money for a martial arts club.

Brian Davies, a crane driver at AV Dawson, contacted his employer about Middlesbrough-based Max Training Martial Arts Club’s recent fundraising drive.

The club needs buy extra sparring equipment to help six budding kickboxers represent England in the junior kickboxing World Championships next month.

Mr Davies received help from his employer to apply for charity funding from the Middlesbrough and Teesside Philanthropic Foundation, which AV Dawson is a patron of.

It won the club £1,000 which will help send the young kickboxers to the contest in Portugal, including Mr Davies’s granddaughter Saran Hill.

Last year, talented Saran became the youngest black belt at the gym at the age of seven and recently won the British championships in Manchester in her age group for point sparring.

Mr Davies, of Linthorpe, said: “It’s really important that our kids and grandkids are encouraged, inspired and given these opportunities through community sports clubs like Max Training.”

Saran and her peers are due to compete in the junior championships over the weekend of October 29.