MARTIAL ARTS: WHEN the Loveladys talk of family ties, they generally mean fastening black belts on their karate suits.

Now a fourth member of the clan is celebrating achieving the landmark in a discipline which has shaped their lives.

By passing her first Dan exam, tenyear-old Francesca Lovelady-Jones is following a family tradition.

Francesca has been training for five years and no-one is prouder than her dad Frank and aunt Barbara, who have taught the youngster at Widnes Shotokan Karate Club.

Last year they also helped Francesca's sister, Rebecca Lovelady-Jones, to become a black belt, also at the age of 10.

Fourth Dan Barbara, 40, is chief instructor at the club where her 41-year-old brother Frank, a second Dan, is also on the coaching team.

Barbara said: 'Francesca has done remarkably, particularly because of her size. Out of about 80 at the grading, there were probably less than 10 who passed, so she has had to fight really hard to get her black belt.'

Francesca had to pack several elements including basic forms, kata and kumite into a nerve-racking practical demonstration.

Barbara said: 'Other clubs do gradings at their own premises but we go into the unknown and meet people we don't know. So it makes it even more special.'

Francesca was graded in Barnsley by Sensei Andy Sherry, eighth Dan chief instructor and chairman of the Karate Union of Great Britain.

Barbara added: 'It is the oldest karate association in this country. Shotokan Karate is the most traditional style and one of the oldest martial arts.'

Barbara has been at Widnes Shotokan, the oldest Widnes karate club, for 20 years and has about 40 members from Warrington, Liverpool and St Helens, as well as Halton.

The club has three instructors in all - the other being second Dan Ian O'Brien - and meets at Upton Community Centre, Hough Green Road, on Mondays and Wednesdays (6-7.30pm).

'When you are doing karate, the benefits are second to none,' added Barbara, whose five-year-old daughter Holly Roberts is already training and looking to reach black belt standard within four years.