TWINS Nathan and Jack Waghorn are the best of friends – until it comes to karate.

The shy 12-year-olds from Kirkburton spar more ferociously against each other than anyone else – and it’s this friendly rivalry which has spurred the brothers on to great heights.

The two of them have just returned from the GKR Karate World Championships in Birmingham with the silver and a bronze medals for kumite – or sparring – in their age group.

The karate twins, both pupils at Kirkburton Middle School, even had to fight against each other to settle the medals.

It was a very close contest, but in the end it was Nathan who emerged with the silver and Jack with the bronze.

The whole family took up karate just over six years ago when they started classes together in Denby Dale.

Mum Claudia, an administration assistant, carried on for three years and got her red belt before retiring due to pressures of home and work.

But dad Howard and the boys got bitten by the karate bug and carried on. They have worked their way through white, yellow, orange, green, blue, red and brown belts and now all three are black belts.

Claudia said: “Nathan and Jack are very quiet so we took up karate as a family to help make sure they are prepared for life.