A NORTH-EAST college has become the first in the country to offer A-levels in amateur boxing.

Students at East Durham and Houghall Community College were celebrating the decision yesterday.

College principal Ian Prescott said: "Boxing is an outstanding sport and the introduction of AS and A-level qualifications recognise the skill and talent required when studying any sport A-level."

The college is also involved in developing the AS and A level syllabus with the Oxford and Cambridge examination board (OCR) and hopes to implement the qualification in September next year.

Frank Collinson, who has worked closely with the college on the bid, said: "We have developed a syllabus for the AS and A-level courses and are currently in discussion with the OCR.

"The course will be up and running next academic year, and we also hope to have a GCSE in place following this success.

"The boxing A-level will be practically assessed with a knowledgeable trained boxing coach working alongside the teacher to point out the necessary skills required by the student for qualification.

"The A-level must be assessed at competition level as a martial art in the invasion games section, while the GCSE will include a demonstration of shadow boxing."