KARATE stars Paul Newby and Cain Canning helped England to Silver medal place at the Eurpopean Karate Championship in Germany.

They took on the best Europe could throw at them, including former World Champions, France, but were just beaten in the final. "It was a superb competition with thousands of spectators in the hall, and we are improving all the time. Our hope now is that the sport will be accepted into the Olympics because we would have a great chance of a medal," Paul said.

Cain also picked up a string of trophies at the English national Championships and was named top competitior at the event. Other members of the Silsden-based Seidokan club also enjoyed success Including Ben Bottomley who was second in the Under-21 U-65k fighting.

The team of paul Newby, Cain Canning, Ben Bottomley, Michael Shrives, Craig Burke, Phil Biggs and Rob Yorke took Bronze.