A TEENAGER from the North-East has come first in an international martial arts competition.

Jade Slavin, 16, from South Magdelene, Medomsley, near Consett, County Durham, won gold in the Dutch tae kwon do championships, last weekend.

Earlier this month, the second dan black belt became the light middleweight champion of Great Britain for the second year running.

Jade, who is completing her GCSEs at St Bede’s School in Lanchester, said: “I feel great, because I did not expect to win in Holland.

“I don’t seem like the sort of person who would do tae kwon do, but it is a great sport.

“I really enjoy the fighting side and I am going to keep doing it.”