MARTIAL arts students have kick-started a new era after moving into their first permanent home.

Huddersfield Taekwondo Club has spent the last two years training in temporary venues.

But members now have somewhere to call their own after taking over The Lighthouse on Linden Road in Birkby.

The building belongs to St Cuthbert’s Church, one of the premises the club has used for training in the past.

Club secretary Kelita Crocker said: “Previously we held classes all across Huddersfield at different venues, from schools to health clubs, but finally we have managed to secure a rental property for our club.

“This property was a run down building which had not been used for over 12 months and was in bad condition.

“Thanks to every member of the club, and in particularly the instructor Mosy Bagherzadeh, the premises have been repaired and cleaned up and are now in a position to be used for all our classes.

“We have grown rapidly and now have about 300 members, so it’s good for us to have our own place.”