Amy Lycett is celebrating becoming the first female member of Darlington Jujitsu Club to achieve black belt status.

After taking up the sport four years ago while studying Biology with Education at Hull University, she has finally earned her black belt having passed the belts white, yellow, orange, green, blue, purple and brown.

Amy explained how the black belt examination was a severe test of her abilities. She said: "First of all you do 25 throws of any kind you want.

"Then other people try and throw you and you have to try and stop them.

"Then I stood the middle of a ring and other people come towards you and you and have to try different techniques to try and stop them. They try throws, strangulation and some of them had sticks!"

Commenting on her diminutive stature Amy said: "When people were trying to throw me I had to use some of my favorite techniques because I am only 5ft tall.

"I've had to get a bit stronger because most of the men I'm up against are a lot bigger than me."

The club, which his based in Larchfield Street sports centre, is part of the Goshin Ryu Jujitsu Kai organiation which has a base in Harrogate which is why the grading took place there.

Cliff Pollard of the Darlington Jujitsu Club which is where Amy trains, praised his pupils saying: "The examinations very demanding both physically and mentally, not everybody gets through to this level of excellence ."

She passed the test last weekend along with fellow members Tom Brown and Lee Bowman.