Arguments in this Black Country family’s household don’t usually last very long – because they are thought to be the first in Britain to all be karate black belts.

The Hughes family, of Halesowen, have created their own family fight club after they all gained the highest accolade within six months of each other.

While most children come home from school and sit in front of the TV, Demi, aged 14, and Amber, aged10, prefer to spend their evenings flooring their mother Jane, aged 41, and father Dean, aged 44, as they practise their ninja moves.

But their dedication nearly landed the clan in hot water when eagle-eyed police mistook their training sessions for a violent family bust up.

Officers in a force helicopter spotted Mr Hughes throwing his wife over his shoulder in their back garden, while the two young girls looked on. Mrs Hughes said: “The police came to the door and asked if my husband had been attacking me.

“They were absolutely baffled when I said yes — but told them that me and my two daughters had floored him afterwards. Luckily, we were all in our karate gear — and the police had to see the funny side of it.”