International class boxing referee Alvin Finch, from Kendal, has responded to an urgent call to officiate at the World Boxing Cadet Championship at Liverpool.

Painter and decorator Alvin, who is employed by Richard Hughes Ltd, was at work when he got a phone-call to go to referee the championship, which involved 29 competing counties.

He is the first European qualified referee/judge to officiate at a world tournament as it is necessary to be recognised by the world boxing body.

It paves the way for Alvin to do his World exam next year, which in turn will qualify him for the next major world tournaments. "I've just come back from the European juniors Championships in Hungary at the end of August, but it was so exciting to get a chance to referee a World Championship and my stomach was churning when I heard," he said.

"It was a great experience and I think I must have done alright because I got the go-ahead to become fully qualified for World tournaments in the near future."