A TEN-year-old girl has has been crowned a world champion kick-boxer.

Shannon Priestley, from Ramsbottom, won a gold and silver medal at the World Kickboxing Champ-ionships in Spain.

It is the third time the plucky youngster has represented the country in the global contest, but the first time she has returned victorious, winning gold for "points", and silver in the "continuous" category in the under-13s class.

Proud dad Sean, who went with Shannon for the nine-day trip to Benidorm, said: "She started kickboxing when she was seven, and did well from the start, but she's just got better and better, we're all proud of her for bringing home medals this time.

"She was very nervous during the finals, after she'd won all her knock-out rounds, and didn't want to go up, but I told her to get out there and do it, and she was great."

Shannon, who lives with Sean, mum Michelle, sister Natasha, 16, and four-year-old brother Lee on Fern Street, has come on so much thanks to Alf's Blackbelt Academy in Stacksteads, where she goes three times a week.

She also has been boosted by support for the local community, her dad said.

Teachers and classmates at St Joseph's RC Primary School said special prayers for her while she was abroad, while the nearby Good Samaritan pub collected money to help pay for the trip.

The pub took a collection last year too, to fund the journey to Canada where the 2005 championships took place.

Roger Howarth, landlord of the pub on Peel Brow, said: "It's not cheap to travel to where the competitions are held, so I have a collection at the bar for her. It all helps."

Alongside the £50 from the pub, Shannon also received a boost from the Stubbins Community Trust, which donated £100 raised at last year's World Black Pudding Throwing Championships in Ramsbottom, and £50 from Ramsbottom and Tottington Peel Lions.

Roger added: "We'll definitely do the same next year."