MARCUS Ciriello is certainly a karate kid with a difference because when he is not training to be the next Bruce Lee he is tuning up to be the new Aled Jones.

Now a national karate champion, he is just as likely to be seen with a hymnbook in hand, because the eight-year-old is also a chorister at Worcester Cathedral.

In his short life, he has already won five trophies in the oriental discipline, the most prestigious one recently when he took the top prize in the eight to 11 year-old kata category at the national championships in Reading.

His proud father Antonio said the magnitude of his son's achievement is just beginning to sink in.

"Like any parent I am very proud of him, but I was also very nervous on the day," he said.

Marcus, from Whitbourne, inherited his father's interest in karate and started lessons when he was just five.

"He spends around 20 hours a week training as a chorister and another six hours karate training so there isn't much time for anything else," said Antonio.

"I am so delighted that he won the trophy. He did very well because he was up against a lot of boys who were much bigger and older than him."

He added that Marcus is now hoping to keep focussed on his education as well as his martial arts pursuits, but he certainly has a new goal for his son already.

"It would be great if he could make it to the world championships, but he is too young for that at the moment."

His fellow pupils at King's St Alban's School are also impressed by Marcus' latest piece of silverware.

"They have all said well done and I'm really pleased," said Marcus. "Everyone has been really good."