A FANTASTIC four-year-old has kick-started her karate career so early her instructor says she could be reaching her black belt before she hits double figures.

Little Jazmin Shaw of Hough Green, Widnes, has only been learning the Japanese martial art since last September but has already reached orange-belt.

The karate-mad kid has plenty of incentives to keep going, from her proud mum, Anglela.

She said: "I've said that if she gets a black belt she can have a poodle!

"She is always practising at home, even though she does two hours a week in class, and she absolutely loves it."

Jazmin, who goes to Ditton CoE Primary School, has defied her tender age to master top class karate moves using exceptional hand-eye co-ordination and concentration.

Her sensai, Barbara Lovelady, who runs Shotokan Karate School at Upton Community Centre, said: "It is very hard to start learning karate at such a young age but Jazmin has a great talent, works really hard, and most importantly, she enjoys doing it.

"I have been teaching karate for 18 years and Jazmin is just about the youngest girl I have taught, let alone the youngest to get an orange belt.

"If she keeps going like this she could be on black by the time she is seven or eight."

And it's the fun-factor that keeps her at it, according to Jazmin's mum, Angela. "She has made lots of friends through the karate club and the things she has learnt will stand her in good stead later on. I'm very proud of her."