lucy speed DVD tops the bill

Former ‘EastEnders' star Lucy Speed has joined forces with self defence expert Andy Hopwood to produce a DVD, which is guaranteed to pack a punch and keep women everywhere safe.

Ahead of her new role in ITV's hit police drama ‘The Bill', Lucy has undergone months of intensive training with the British Free Fighting Academy 's chief instructor Andy to get fit for her latest release ‘Stay Safe'.

As founder of the British Free Fighting Academy ( BFFA) , a self-defence and protection organisation specialising in teaching simple techniques, Andy and Lucy's aim is to help people to feel safe on the streets regardless of strength or size.

Their timely launch of ‘Stay Safe' takes place as the January weather brings dark mornings, even darker nights and making people more vulnerable to attack and violent crime increases yet again.

Records from Crimestoppers show that attacks and muggings increase in the winter months with darkness acting as a veil for street crime. Even Jaqui Smith the Home Secretary admits to feeling 'unsafe'!

Attacks in real life are always untidy and often frenzied so ‘Stay Safe' provides effective self-defense techniques that are simple, practical and natural.

Andy said: “Our DVD ‘Stay Safe' is to help people overcome attack quickly and safely, causing the least possible amount of harm to themselves and their attacker.

“British Free Fighting encompasses restraining, grappling and powerful striking techniques, as well as defense against multiple attackers and opponents with weapons. All techniques are designed to have maximum effect using minimum effort.”

Lucy Speed said: “I decided to get involved with this DVD as I have huge respect for the techniques and ethos taught by Andy and his team at the BFFA. As a small female I know how it feels to be intimidated and threatened, but now I know how to fight back against someone twice my size and that gives me real confidence in my every day life.”

With over 30 years award-winning experience under his belt, Andy Hopwood is the UK's leading Martial Arts expert.

His impressive credentials include extensive military experience, with several years as an overseas Special Forces operative and Combat Instructor; being inducted into the ‘Combat Hall of Fame' in both 2001 and 2003; creating the SHIELD Professional Personal Safety Programme used by top sports stars, public figures, celebrities and V.I.P's and producing the ‘Backoff!' anti- bullying programme, which has been successfully used in schools and colleges nationwide.

Andy is also a scriptwriter, presenter and fight choreographer on several high street instructional DVD's and author of autobiographical novel ‘It's Only Pain'.

Andy is supported by his wife Sharon Hopwood who boasts over 20 years in the fitness industry, and who is herself a highly experienced British Free Fighting instructor teaching children from as young as seven.

The BFFA instructors operate throughout the UK and Europe offering classes, seminars and training workshops. Residential seminars are held at the British Free Fighting's HQ in Worcestershire and various locations around the UK.

The ‘Stay Safe' DVD is available from all major retailers or on line at www.staysafedvd.com