To rule in Rome is aim

Two Shropshire fighters were today heading to Rome to represent England in the European Mixed Martial Arts Championships.

Andy Molyneux and Doug Wildman are heading for the Italian capital, and both have high hopes of medals.

Mixed martial arts - commonly referred to as MMA - is a mixture of seven different martial arts: boxing, karate, muay thai, Greco-Roman wrestling, judo, jiu- jitsu and catch wrestling.

Molyneux and Wildman have opened their own MMA gym in Shrewsbury and believe the sport is now starting to flourish in this country.

"It is considered one of the toughest sports in the world," said 33-year-oldMolyneux.

"Rugby and Amercian Football stars find it harder than their own sports."