MALMESBURY kickboxer Ben Heap is celebrating achievements in and out of the ring.

The 25-year-old builder recently won his first European kickboxing title, the World Combat Arts European Pro Middleweight title, and is looking to upgrade his own kickboxing school to a larger premises in Hankerton.

Ben won his European title in May on a third-round stoppage by the referee against Patrick Blight from Northern Ireland.

“It’s definitely the highlight of my career so far,” said Ben, who will go on to defend his title at the Pro-K fight night in Bristol on Saturday, September 24.

If successful the next step would be the chance to claim a world title in either October or early next year, depending on the opponent.

Ben got into kickboxing after being bullied as a young child.

He said: “A friend of mine said I should come along, I went to my first class and never looked back.”

Seventeen years later the champion is making a name for himself in the sport. But it’s not just his own career that concerns him.

He has put a lot of effort into the Malmesbury Martial Arts Academy. It has been so successful since he founded it in October 2015 that he is now looking for an upgraded facility.

He runs classes for about 20-30 children who train on Mondays and Thursdays after school and on Saturdays.

Ben said: “There’s a few good students to be fair, it’s hard to pick any out as they all work as hard as each other.

“But we run classes out of St Mary’s Hall where the floor is not matted. There’s no proper boxing facilities and no ring which means there’s no chance to go further.”

Of the new location, Ben said: “It’ll be a big difference for us, a better facility to train in and it will be easier to teach classes.

“Compared to St Mary’s Hall it’s three to four times the size.”

Ben has been canvassing opinion on Facebook from children and parents and says that most of the responses have been positive.

He encourages anyone interested to come and have a go. “It’s a lot of fun, you’ll use a lot of energy and have a laugh together with lots of people interested in the same thing,” said Ben.

u To find out more about Malmesbury Martial Arts Academy you can find them on Facebook.

Ben is also running a crowdfunding campaign to help raise £5,000 for the club’s new gym and equipment.

There is a justgiving page for the Malmesbury Martial Arts Academy.

Full details of Ben’s Euro title win can be found at worldcombatarts website.