A Forest Hill girl is preparing to fight competitions in Europe after earning a Shodan Black Belt in one of the toughest forms of Karate.

Nicole Arnold, 17, who goes to Sydenham Girls Sixth Form, passed a six-hour exam and three-day assessment to achieve the award in Kyokushinkai Karate.

Nicole began her training aged 10 and is a member of the BKK Crystal Palace Karate Club, based at the National Sports Centre.

Having represented England at home and overseas, the teenager is now set to fight in her first ‘knockdown’ contests as a cadet.