JAMIE Gridley has been selected to represent England in the World Karate Championships in Tenerife this October.

Gridley, 17 from Cross Hills, has been part of the England team for three years.

He was 12th in the World Championships in Indonesia as a 15-year-old, and placed ninth at the European Championships in Cyprus last year.

The former South Craven student, now in his second year of studying sports fitness and coaching at Craven College, had to travel to Barnsley to fight against other competitors his age from all over the country who had been invited to attend selections.

Gridley won all his fights in his under 61kg 16 to 17 year-old weight category, and showed the panel of coaches he is ready to take on the world.

He trains at Vision Fitness & Martial Arts Centre in Cross Hills with coach Paul Newby, a former world champion.

Gridley, an English title winner and British silver medallist, says he has the best coach there is and couldn’t do this without him and his parents' support.