A GANG of trouble-making teenage boys picked on the wrong person when they ran into young Heidi Rogan.

The 14-year-old was surrounded by the teenagers while walking through an underpass in Darlington.

They refused to let her pass and one of them even punched her in the stomach when she tried to pass.

But what they did not know was that Heidi, who lives in Thornaby, near Stockton, has been learning the martial art of Taekwondo for the past six years.

"When I was punched, my training seemed to take over and I hit one back in the stomach and kicked another one," she said yesterday.

The young thugs were so surprised, they let Heidi through before running off in the opposite direction.

Despite being shaken by the ordeal, which took place near the town centre a few weeks ago, Heidi says it has given her more confidence.

Heidi's mother, Carol, said she was proud of her daughter.

"Heidi is quite a shy girl and this has certainly helped to build up her confidence," she said.

Heidi, who goes to St Patrick's Comprehensive School, Thornaby, has a got a blue belt in Taekwondo and trains twice a week at the Chungdokwan club in Darlington.

Chief instructor Ron Brennan said: "I was very surprised because Heidi is a quiet and timid girl.

"But she did absolutely the right thing by defending herself from attack and that, along with giving you more confidence, is what martial arts is all about.

"A sport like Taekwondo should always only be used in defence and Heidi is a good example that you don't have to be big and strong to use it."

Inspector Sue Collingwood, of Darlington Police, said: "People are allowed to use whatever force is reasonable in the circumstances to defend themselves and in this case she did the right thing.