A BOY who took up martial arts when he was five has qualified as one of Britain's youngest black belts.

Harvey Saunders, now seven, had to demonstrate his Taekwondo skills before a panel of six senior examiners in Doncaster to achieve the award at the weekend.

The youngster, of Staindrop, near Barnard Castle, County Durham, has worked his way through the ranks of white, yellow, green, blue and red belts.

He was so keen to move up to the top black grade that he trained five times a week for the past two months.

Harvey, a pupil at Staindrop Primary School, has already fought seven Taekwondo bouts, mostly against boys older than him, and won five of them.

His mother, Lynn Saunders, said yesterday: "I'm thrilled to bits about him becoming a black belt at so young an age. He worked really hard to achieve this honour.

"He is not at all aggressive. He is a very nice natured boy, but he loves everything to do with martial arts and enjoys taking part in the fights."

Harvey was trained by Brian Whiley, who runs the Baek Ho Taekwondo Club, in Butterknowle.

Mr Whiley said, "Harvey is the youngest black belt I have ever known. I have never heard of a younger one anywhere.

"He is a very talented and dedicated young man who must have a great future in the sport. Everyone is proud of him."

Mr Whiley and ten of his students have recently been on a study trip to Korea, where they met some of the world's best Taekwondo fighters.