NOT many people get the chance to become one of their childhood heroes.

Dorchester taekwondo champion Aaron Cook got to live a dream when he was transformed into a real-life Power Ranger.

London 2012 Olympic medal hopeful Aaron, 20, was inspired to take up Taekwondo by the acrobatic antics of the characters on the children’s television series and jumped at the chance to promote the latest Power Ranger toy.

He dressed in the gear of the new Power Ranger Samurai and was shown off in a giant three-metre replica toy box to shoppers at London’s Westfield shopping centre. Aaron said: “I was mad about Power Rangers as a kid so my parents took me to a local Taekwondo club in Dorchester where I fell in love with the sport.

“The rest, as they say, is history.

“I’m hoping that by joining the Power Rangers I’ll help to inspire British children to follow in my footsteps, which will hopefully include a medal at the London 2012 Olympics.”

The 2010 European champion and world number three said he thoroughly enjoyed his day as a Power Ranger and life-size toy.

He said: “I’ve been in the shop window and having my picture taken with kids, it’s been wicked. Being a Power Ranger for a day is a bit of a childhood dream for me, it’s a bit special.

“I obviously jumped at the chance and it’s amazing to have done it.”

When he’s not being a Power Ranger Aaron, who narrowly missed out on a bronze medal in the Beijing 2008 Olympics at the age of just 17, is currently facing a hectic schedule of training and competitions as he prepares for the biggest summer of his life next year.

He said: “I have an extremely busy year this year, travelling round the world and trying to get competitions in and hopefully get selected for the Olympics next year.

“It’s a case of trying to squeeze in as many competitions and as much training as I can so I’m ready.”