Kick boxing kids Bill and Charlotte Rowley aim to rule the world after a family double in national competitions.

Bill overcame a big age disadvantage to pick up a trophy at the British Open Championships in Cheltenham, while younger sister Charlotte was crowned Grand Champion in the British Sports Martial Arts Premiership (BSMAP).

The youngsters, from Rustington, are coached by Newton Lowndes at the The Lowndes Black Belt School, Worthing Leisure Centre, on Monday evenings. They also travel to Dorking for further training on Wednesdays and Epsom on Fridays.

Bill finished third of 30 competitors in his category, under-16, under-165cm continuous kickboxing, despite only celebrating his 12th birthday last month.

All of the other competitors were aged between 14 and 16, but Bill won four of his five fights to surprise even himself.

He admitted: "I didn't really expect to get anything, but I decided to give it my best shot because I'd been training hard for two or three weeks just for this event.

"I only started kick boxing when I was ten but I was still more experienced than some of the older people in the competition.

"I mostly relied on speed, not a lot of power, because it's not really aggressive, although it's a bit like boxing and you use your legs as well.

"I feel really great and my family and friends are all very happy for me. My friends think I'm great, really cool, because I finished third. It's exciting."

Bill, a pupil at Chatsmore High School, Goring, has already achieved green belt status, the fifth highest of the nine kick boxing belts.

He added: "I hope to be world champion one day. If I keep going and trying as hard as I am now, I think it will be pretty soon."

Charlotte topped the BSMAP points totals in the under-140cm girls semi-contact event which included seven competitions, four in Guildford and one each in Dorking, Yeovil and Maidenhead.

Former British heavyweight boxer Gary Mason presented a plaque to the nine-year-old, from St Wilfrid's School, Angmering.

She said: "I train a lot and try my best. I've put 100 per cent work and effort into it.

"Sometimes it gets quite tiring, especially all the travelling, but it's really fun and I love competing.

"I feel great for my brother too. We train together and we help each other out."

Charlotte is part of the England squad and trains with her national colleagues at Chessington, Surrey, once a month.

She won a bronze medal at the World Championships in Italy during the summer and hopes to go two better at the next world jamboree.

Charlotte said: "The next World Championships are in Limerick next year, but I need to qualify by doing well enough at the British Championships in Manchester in March.

"I want to be world champion and I want to be in the Olympics."

Proud dad Ian said: "They're both very committed and enjoy training together.We're looking for sponsorship because it's getting quite expensive with all the travelling."