WIDNES Boxing Club has welcomed the arrival of a female coach from London.

Katrina Watson, a 33-year-old mum, regularly puts some of Halton's most eager young boxers through their paces.

"She's very good with the kids and they certainly look up to her," says Jack Ryan, who runs the club from the Halton Stadium gym.

"They fight among themselves to do pad work in the ring with her and she knows what she's talking about - all our coaches do."

Katrina says coaching alongside Jack and the others is the best of both worlds - she gets to teach children the discipline, technique and fitness vital for any aspiring boxer, while training in the sport she loves.

"I've been into boxing ever since I was young because my dad and two brothers were boxers," she said.

"I've only been coming here for about four months but it's like one big family.

"The kids help the coaches set up the equipment and are very keen to get in the ring and do pad work after their warm ups.

"We teach them the basics - how to do sit ups and press ups, how to punch a heavy bag properly - and hopefully they'll go further on in the future. With anything from half a dozen to more than 20 children turning up each week, including three of Katrina's kids, Jack's gym is on the rise.

"I'd just like to thank everyone who has helped get this place up and running," he says.

"The kids here are great and as long as they are prepared to work hard and do as they're told they'll have a good time and learn a lot about boxing."