A KARATE instructor from Bolton is teaching his skills to elite police officers in Brazil — the only person in the UK to do so.

Super-fit Steve Costello, aged 69, is highly respected in the South American country and has trained hundreds of officers over the past 15 years.

He also holds a world record for breaking 200 Brazilian roof tiles with a colleague in only four seconds.

It was witnessed by thousands of people and screened on television.

Steve has received the highest honour in karate that can be awarded by the police force and he travels to Brazil annually to teach officers in the Command Operations Elite, the equivalent of the SAS.

Steve, of Tonge Moor Road, Bradshaw, said: “It has been an honour to go to Brazil and all the things that myself and those I have trained have achieved.”

He started boxing when he was aged 11, and went on to do combat and jiu jitsu before taking up karate.

He was taught by Phil Milner, who nicknamed him the headhunter.

Steve was invited to Brazil by a former Boltonian who had moved to the country and set up a karate club. He first went in 1995 and when he did demonstrations he was spotted by Roberson Luiz Bondaruk, who invited him back the following year to teach the police.

Steve, who used to work laying pavements, said: “It is hard work, but we enjoy it. They see a lot of ugly sights, so we have a bit of fun too, with games of tug of war and crab football.

“I teach them that they do not have to kill people.

They can disarmsomeone who is holding a knife, while they hold a gun, if they do it right. Just because someone has a knife doesn’t mean you have to shoot them.”

He said that officers all refer to him as “Mr Steve”

and outside the classroom they are good friends.

“They are all human as well — they enjoy a bit of karaoke and are really good lads.”

Steve has also dedicated many years to raising money for charity by demonstrating his skills.

He and other instructors recently raised £1,100 for Bolton Hospice by holding a “sponsored break”.