A nine-year-old boy is one of the youngest people in Britain ever to secure a black belt in Japanese karate – and it’s all thanks to a childhood obsession with Power Rangers.

Harrison Sullivan, of St Mary’s Hare Park School in Gidea Park, was thrilled this week after scooping a black belt, despite his coach warning it was extremely rare for anyone to pass on their first attempt.

It’s the latest sporting achievement for the talented youngster from Brentwood, after winning a contract with West Ham United’s under-nines team earlier this year.

Harrison had topped a list of 5,000 hopefuls of his own age, singing with the Premier League Club and scoring an incredible three goals in his first two matches.

Now proud mum Elaine put Harrison’s recent martial arts success down to his commitment and a childhood obsession with TV show Power Rangers.

She said: “As a two-year-old he was really into Power Rangers. He couldn’t walk across the room without recreating them.

“I thought if I took him to karate he could get it out of his system for an hour and maybe he would stop kicking the furniture.”

Harrison, who trains at the Yushikai Karate Academy in Billericay, started classes at just three-years-old and in July took home the gold medal for his age group at a national competition.

British Telecom manager Elaine added: “When it comes to a black belt there’s no difference between a junior and an adult taking it.

“I am very proud. He’s had two great achievements in the same year.”