She looks as if butter wouldn't melt but Amelia-Jane Allerton packs a powerful punch - and kick to boot.
The nine-year-old from Settrington, near Malton, returned from the recent Northern Tang Soo Do Championships with a glittering gold and silver double.
Amelia-Jane won the form competition and then bagged a silver in the sparring against fighters up to two years older.
The green belt student has been training in the martial arts discipline since the age of five under her father, Master David Allerton's expert tuition.
Allerton senior has more than 30 years experience and runs classes in Teesside, but also trains Amelia-Jane and her two brothers, Isaac, seven, and five-year-old Ethan, at home.
Mum Melanie said: "She's over the moon. She's blonde and very petite so you would never expect here to be so good at it but she's done really well."
Updated: 10:23 Saturday, November 26, 2005
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