A YOUNG Taekwondo star is proving herself to be a big hitter on both the international arena and in her home town.

Black belt second dan Amy Bone is set to take her place on the GB team at the Cadet European Championships in Spain.

The 14-year-old, of Willington, has just competed in her third British Championships, after years of training with coach Ben Shaw.

And now the Parkside Academy pupil, who has been training since she was three, has also been recognised for her voluntary work after being nominated for Greater Willington’s Charity Shop 4U Young Achiever of the Year Award.

The teenager was nominated by her older sister Katie, herself a black belt third dan, who coaches at TKD Warriors taekwondo in Willington Methodist Church.

The nomination asked Charity Shop 4U to recognise Amy’s tireless work inspiring younger children while also working hard on her own progress in the martial art.

Amy was unabled to attend the award presentation event last week because, just the night before, she received a call asking her to go to Manchester to train with the Great Britain Taekwondo under 18s team after her selection to represent GB.

In her application for the Young Achiever of the Year Award on her sister’s behalf Katie, 18, said: “Amy is making an impact on the European stage and her dedication and passion is amazing,

“Although she is experiencing a lot of success, she never forgets about the local kids and is always wanting to help them to achieve their goals.”

Her mother Joanne and one of the students she helps, Natasha Bowes, picked it up on her behalf.

Mrs Bone said: “Amy said that she is over the moon to have won this award and I’m so happy to see her rewarded for the work she does.

“She has the patience of a saint, training five days herself and giving up the other two to train others.

“The £150 prize will go on the trip to Spain for the European competition and her training costs. It will be a great help to her.”

Her dad, Jason Bone, said the whole family was incredibly proud of Amy, who last won bronze in the European Championships as a child competitor in Turkey, in 2014 and had come back fighting this year following a struggle with injuries last year.

He also thanked the community who he said had supported her all the way.

“It’s a passion of hers – she’s been training since she was three-and-a-half – but she never complains and just gets on with it.

“If she got a medal at the championships it would just top off the year for her.”