A FORMER Tavistock couple have been awarded a prestigious martial arts honour after just two years? training.

Steve and Helen Toms were presented with the Best Instructors 2003 award by Master Matt Fiddes at a recent instructors? dinner.

The pair began training with Master Fiddes at the beginning of 2002 and went on to become instructors with his international martial arts school.

Since then they have trained two to three nights each week, with Steve currently working towards his black belt second dan and Helen taking her black belt first dan later this year.

They now live in Exeter and run training centres at Tiverton and South Molton where they have more than 60 students, ranging from beginners to deputy black belts.

The couple said: ?We teach Master Fiddes? own system designed to bring martial arts into the 21st century.

It is a freestyle system incorporating the best of many different styles including tae-kwondo, karate, kung-fu, ju-jitsu and kickboxing.

?Helen and I are over the moon with the award ? it means a lot to us and to our students ? we trained hard and it has paid off.

?We are now training even harder to retain the award next year!?

Classes in Tavistock are trained by Mitch Simpson ? an instructor with more than 15 years experience.

Anyone interested in joining can contact the school on 0870 7422118.