WORCESTERSHIRE Martial Arts celebrated one of their best years with the annual awards and black belt presentation.

Members enjoyed a big medal haul in 2019 and had a number of new dan grades as well as Droitwich Taekwon-Do celebrating their 20th birthday.

The competitors of the year who amassed the most medal points were Kirsty Leanne Denslow for the adults, Valentin Vizitiu for the juniors and Rois Perkins for the tiny kwon-do under eights.

Club instructors nominated Denslow as student of the year, Michael Fudger as most improved and Gracie Hodgkins for the tiny kwon-do best effort.

Joe Mitchell, 16, was voted instructor of the year.

After testing in Cambridge black belts Rob Carter, Mitchell and junior Amy Pullen were all promoted to second degrees.

Worcestershire Martial Arts start a new taekwon-do class for wheelchair users on Monday, January 13, at the Horizon Community Hub, Midland Road, at 6pm.

They raised £2,723.56 for mental health charity Survivors Worcester in 2019 by hosting several events including 24 hours of martial arts and an inter-school contest.

Worcestershire Martial Arts director and head instructor Sally Gleaves said: "I am incredibly proud of the achievements and positive actions our school have had both in martial arts and in the community this year.

"The school is continuing to go from strength to strength and this is down to being led by such a strong set of volunteers from the instructing team to the students who help behind the scenes.

"They are a group of people who I am very thankful for!"