A BOY of nine has proved he is a real karate kid after gaining his black belt.

Dalton Kidd, from Plunkett Road, Flint Hill, Dipton, County Durham, has been going to Burnopfield Karate Club for three-anda- half years.

Dalton, a pupil at Burnopfield Primary School, has been training hard with instructor Gary Lewis.

He said: "I am very proud of getting my black belt.

"The hardest part was remembering everything that you have to do and doing it very fast.

"I really enjoy doing karate and my instructor is very nice."

His mother, Wendy, is also proud of Dalton's achievement.

She said: "I am chuffed to bits for him because he has been working so hard for it.

"He has been training every night and while his friends have been on their Playstations he has been doing exercises.

"He is as fit as a lop and it is a marvellous thing to have at his age."