YOUNG racing fan John Stewart is threatening to beat his father at his own sport.

For nine-year-old John, of Dipton, near Stanley, has already won a major go-kart race in the sport he took up just one year ago.

Meanwhile, his go-kart champion father, also named John Stewart, who owns Beamish garage, in Stanley, says he is worried that young John may soon beat him.

He said: "He has some courage on his kart. They can go up to 60mph and take some handling but he's really taken to it."

Mr Stewart said that Burnopfield Primary School pupil John had recently won the premier karting race in Cumbria and this weekend is taking part in the qualifiers for the national team in Kent