Teen knight gets joust desserts

Malcolm gave his first public jousting performance last week

A 14-year-old boy from Somerset has taken on a summer job with a difference - as a medieval knight.

Malcolm Lewis, from Taunton, has joined a jousting re-enactment company and will be performing at a castle in Devon until September.

He is believed to be the youngest person in the country to perform in jousting displays.

His mother Ann said: "We are very proud of him. He has set out to become a knight and achieved his goal."

Malcolm first became interested in the jousting after watching a re-enactment at Powderham Castle in Devon last year.

'Fall off properly'

The owner of the company behind the display, Geoff Winship, offered him a summer job, as an armourer and a jester.

The teenager spent the year saving up to pay for horse riding lessons and re-joined the company in July to train as a jouster.

He gave his first public horseback performance at Powderham Castle on Sunday.

"You have to be able to ride," the 14-year-old told the BBC.

"The lance weighs 35lbs and the shield weighs 15lbs - so you have to be quite strong.

"You also have to be able to fall off properly. When you are struck, you have to fall off."