A SPECIAL needs Tae Kwon Do student has achieved a 1st Dan Black Belt after almost six years of solid training.

Leanne Latham, 18 of Lydney, was born with a congenital heart defect and lives with Mitral Valve Regurgitation (leaky valves). She also suffers from Partial Trisomy 21 Down Syndrome, which is where she has half an extra chromosome on 21 instead of a whole one. This in turn has stemmed her learning difficulties.

She was awarded her black belt and certificates by her instructor, Martin Gardiner, after five and half years of hard work and lessons in Korean.

Her mum, Jan said: "This is a fantastic achievement. We are all extremely proud of Leanne and the determination she has shown. Her heart condition hasn't held her back too much, she knows her limits if she feels tired she has a rest and then carries on. She will need to have valve replacements in the future but hopefully that's a long way off."