A TEENAGE girl is celebrating after being awarded a black belt in tae kwon do.

Naomi Denton, 13, from Darlington, took up the sport less than three years ago and has already fought her way through ten other belt grades before achieving the first dan ranking.

The year eight pupil at Teesside High School for Girls, in Eaglescliffe, near Stockton, hopes to go on competing until she reaches the ninth dan level.

Before being presented with the black belt Naomi, who competes at the Kim Chung Do Kwon centre, in Darlington, had to complete five different exercises under the scrutiny of a master.

Her headteacher, Hilary French, said: "We are very proud of Naomi's achievement in a sport, which demands a lot of commitment. She deserves her success."

Naomi's next competition will be in Blackpool next month.