A fitness instructor mum has hit out after her council bosses branded her karate-obsessed son ‘overweight’.

Michelle Blake and husband Jamie were stunned when they received a letter from Trafford Council warning that Ethan-James, five, who practises karate four times a week was above weight for his height and age.

But the Timperley mum has blasted the ruling - and say the measurements applied to the super-fit five-year-old don’t make any sense.

The letter from the director of health at Trafford Council told the family that Ethan-James was overweight for his height, age and sex.

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It stated that, having been measured as part of the National Child Measurement Programme, that the schoolboy was ‘overweight’ at 25.4 kg (just under four stone) and 119 cm tall (3ft 9 inches) and was at risk of being overweight as an adult.

Mum-of-three Michelle, who teaches nutrition and fitness to sixth-formers at the Walkden campus of Salford City college, told the M.E.N. she ‘just laughed’ when she opened and read the letter.

She said: “There’s not an inch of fat on him. I teach young students the importance of fitness and nutrition so I’m aware of the nutritional requirements of children. I’ve always made sure all of my children eat healthily and do as much exercise as possible.

“I understand that there isn’t enough time in school to fulfil their exercising needs so I’ve always been very conscious of the fact they need to exercise.”

And dad Jamie, who works at a security officer in Old Trafford, told the M.E.N.: “He does karate at Sale Dojo with his sisters four times a week, as well as gymnastics at school, he’s always playing out on his bike, on the trampoline and playing football.

"He loves going to the park and running around. He eats healthily; lots of fruit and veg, fish and pasta.

“We were very shocked to find Trafford thinks he’s overweight. He’s a big strong lad for a five-year-old but he’s very strong and active. As parents we try our best to keep all our kids active. They don’t have XBoxes or Playstations.”

The letter was issued after a nurse from Trafford Council came out to Ethan-James’s school, Broomwood Primary in Timperley, and measured Ethan-James along with all the other kids as part of a government measurement scheme for children aged four and five and also aged 10 and 11.

Michelle continued: “I was furious [when I opened the letter]. What evidence do they have? Have they measured his muscle mass? He’s a strong, healthy boy.”

Trafford Council said the results were based on nationally-set measurements.

A spokesman said: “The National Child Measurement Programme is a national programme that all councils must take part in. It includes the measuring of children in reception class and year six.

"Result letters are sent out to parents to help them make decisions about the health and wellbeing based on the outcome of the measurement test.

“The Council does not comment on individual cases.”