Students at Keiryu Practical Karate have been getting used to wearing new belts after 30 of them successfully passed their latest grading exam.

Keiryu Practical Karate has clubs in Silver End, Witham and Maldon and had students grading from beginner to black belt levels.

Junior gradings lasted an hour, with tests on combinations, kata and impact work, while older students faced a two-hour examination that included power generation and impact testing, locks, throws, escape and evasion techniques, fighting scenarios and kata.

Twin brothers Connor and Ryan Saunders and Connor Keating graded to black belt, while Donna Mullan, from Rayne, achieved first Kyu brown belt.

Skye Bekir, who is 12 and from Braintree, graded to third Kyu brown belt, while 11-year-old Meave Oakman and her father, Chris, who are from Silver End, both graded to fifth Kyu purple belt.