THE Snapes have discovered that karate is a hobby for all the family.

Stephen Snape, his wife Joyce, and children Phillipa, aged 12, and Jack, aged eight, are all karate red belts, which is just short of the top black belt status.

Mr and Mrs Snape, both aged 42, from Over Hulton, took up the martial art just over two years ago, along with their children.

They trained at the Soo Bahk Do Karate school at Horwich leisure centre. The organisation specialises in training families, a key factor in the Snapes' decision to take up the sport.

Mrs Snape said: "With Soo Bahk Do we could learn and train together. As well as the physical exercise, we have found that we are much closer now we have a common interest -- and we can encourage each other while we practise."

The family was trained by Robert Hedges, a karate master who recently starred in BBC2's Masters of Combat.