Martial artists from as far afield as Egypt and Sweden took part in a kung fu competition in Watford at the weekend.

More than 150 competitors and spectators attended the Fujian White Crane Kung Fu Annual International competition at Watford Grammar School for Girls in Lady's Close.

Events included junior and senior tai chi patterns, junior and senior kung fu forms, light contact and full contact sparring for men and women, and open sparring in which men and women of all weight categories sparred against each other.

Competitors ranged in age from 12 to 45.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Fujian White Crane Kung Fu (FWC Kung Fu) club in the UK. Chief Instructor Dennis Kah Swee Ngo has been studying kung fu for 50 years, and teaching in this country for 30.

To celebrate the anniversary, a lion dance was performed, blessing the club and paying respect to Master Ngo.

The event was hosted by the FWC Herts which is one of the newest branches of the club, founded in May 2006.

Classes are held in Watford on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings, taught by Pen Rance, sparring gold medalist, author of the book 'Martial Arts' and one of the few Westerners to have been awarded a Dan grade from China.

Visit www.fwckungfu.com/club/Herts for more details.