MARTIAL ARTS: Fourth dan black belt Paul Acton retained his Senior Men's Open Grade title at the Shukokai Karate National Championships.

Acton, a member of the Great Britain squad, now turns his attention to October's KSI World Championships in South Africa.

The Kidderminster man, who is grateful to two local businesses for helping him make the trip, gained a silver in the European equivalent last year.

In the national event, he demonstrated his consistency by being first in the senior section at Stourbridge for the second year in a row.