A DAD-of-two says he is relieved and thrilled after discovering he smashed a world record for endurance kickboxing.

Lee Ashman, of Witney, completed 135 three-minute consecutive rounds of kickboxing in June – using the event to raise funds for eight-year-old Jacob Fletcher who needs physiotherapy for his cerebral palsy.

Mr Ashman has now received the long-awaited confirmation that he had broken a Guinness World Record, topping the previous record by 15 rounds.

He said: “I was happy and relieved in equal measure as it had taken about 14 weeks for them to give that confirmation.

“But now I’m feeling pretty happy and I'm also pleased to have been able to help out with raising funds and awareness for Jacob.”

Mr Ashman explained that, while the team supporting him helped push him along, the challenge reached a point where it became unbearable.

He had originally intended to take the challenge further – but, after the nine hour mark, his body had different ideas.

The 39-year-old said: “There were some pretty painful moments due to cramp and the longer it went on the more frequent that became but I had a good team around me that helped me push through.

“But it was around that ninth hour when everything was cramping at once and I just couldn't carry on.

“I was pretty emotional a couple of hours later. When I got home I just burst in to tears seemingly for no reason.”

He thanked everybody for their support, including those who had donated to the cause, people who had acted as independent witnesses, people from his kickboxing club and Witney Freemasons for allowing him to use the Masonic Hall for the challenge.

Mr Ashman met Jacob, his twin brother Jordan and mum Lucy at the Freestyle Martial Arts course he attends in Wood Green School, Witney.

Jacob, who doctors said would not be able to walk after his birth, had an operation in America in 2013.

He has received ongoing physiotherapy after the operation and now needs to continue the therapy to ensure he reaps the full benefits of the surgery.

People can still donate to the cause for Mr Ashman by texting JACO54 and the amount to 70070.

Alternatively, go to justgiving.com/fundraising/Jacobsfootsteps where the page has raised nearly £30,000 of a £45,000 target.

As well as training in Witney, Mr Ashman, who was inducted into the International Martial Arts Hall of Fame, London, the same month as the challenge, teaches a martial arts class in Kidlington. For more information visit freestylemartialarts.com