Despite suffering from cerebral palsy, 11-year-old Kirsty Meredith has fought her way to two karate championship titles.

Kirsty, of Cissbury Avenue, Peacehaven, won the Sama Karate organisation's inter-club sparring competition.

She also came top in the set form championships.

The youngster - known as Buffy to her family - took up the martial art five months ago after watching her brother James, eight, practise his moves.

She has already won her red and yellow belts and is about to take her orange belt.

Kirsty's stepmother, Jackie Bolton, said: "We checked with the paediatricians and they said as long as she was careful, there was no medical reason she shouldn't take it up herself.

"She started lessons and she was just amazing. Because of her condition she has to work ten times harder than anyone else.

"She finds balancing difficult, she can't use her right hand and she has to concentrate a lot. But she has just really taken to it.

"It also helps stretch her ligaments, which she needs to do regularly."

She said 18 months ago Kirsty, a pupil at Peacehaven Community School, was shy and withdrawn.

Jackie said: "She has come on in leaps and bounds. It has been such a confidence-builder for her. To win first prize trophies was fantastic."

Kirsty's karate coach Lee Gibson said she beat 50 other people to win the trophies.

He said: "We have to make a few allowances because she can't kick and punch quite as hard as the others but her moves are good enough to make all the grades.

"She is proof that disability is not a bar to enjoying sport. She is a lovely, happy little girl and a pleasure to teach."