LITTLE Alex Hodge has won a British kickboxing title aged just five-years-old – and in his third major competition.

Alex, of March, the youngest competitor in the under 25kg, four to 10-year-old category, beat three competitors in the International Combating Organisation knockout tournament in Kidderminster on Sunday to begin his reign as the nation’s best.

Alex only started the sport at the Dreams Kickboxing Academy, which has classes in Coates, at the end of last year because his 11-year-old brother, Daniel, who wanted to improve his self confidence, wouldn’t go on his own.

Daniel came third in the category for children aged 11 and over.

Mum Helen Hodge said: “I’m extremely proud of them both but I will have to get used to having a British champion living at home.”

Alex said: “I don’t know what the final score was as I was too busy fighting, if you look at the score you get hit. I was kicked a few times on the legs but I was ok, didn’t cry and was able to win.”

Coach Chris Green was also crowned ICO British Middleweight Champion at the competition and Katie Angove, 14, came second in her class in what was her first major competition.

Mr Green said: “I started teaching in March with only a few members so I was a little worried it wouldn’t pick up but now I have 104 children and with three medal holders - including a British champion - it’s brilliant.

“Alex was fantastic, he just pulled it out of the bag. It doesn’t mean much for me to win, it is all about the children and their fantastic success.

“It gives them memories for life and they’ll be able to tell their grandchildren I was a British champion.”

Dreams Academy runs Saturdays from 10-11am for under-7s and 11am-12noon for over-7s at Coates village hall.