A dozen karate enthusiasts who train in Thame and Wheatley are off to Tokyo for the world championships on August 21.

All study Ryobu-kai karate at Thame sports and arts centre and Wheatley Park Centre under tutor, fifth dan Roland Read.

He said: "They have done wonderfully well to get to this stage.

"I am very proud of their dedication to the sport and the fact they have all had to earn the money to get themselves to Japan."

Not all are black belts - some are still juniors in the sport.

Black belt first dan Kevin Gedge, 18, from Chinnor, started in the sport in Thame ten years ago.

The former Lord Williams's School pupil said: "This is a tremendous thrill - we're all looking forward to the trip and to the competition."

With Gedge and Read will be Daniel Hunt and Chris Schurch from Long Crendon, Glyn Jones from Chalgrove, Sally Howard from Great Milton, Tim and Lucy O'Connor from Wheatley, Leanne Moody from Worminghall, David Graham and Dave Brassington from Oxford and Tom Kirkpatrick from Wheatley.

Michael Head, vice chairman of SOLL Leisure which runs the south Oxfordshire centres, helped out with over £200 sponsorship.