A 16-year-old Spanish matador killed six bulls in one afternoon today, pulling off a feat normally attempted only by seasoned veterans and winning trophies for his bravery - ears from the animals he had just slain.

Jairo Miguel Sanchez Alonso, who nearly died from a horrific goring in Mexico in 2007, smiled broadly and waved to a friendly hometown crowd after the series of fights which took about two and a half hours.

The teenager showed his stuff in an arena called Plaza Era de los Martires, or Time of the Martyrs.

The bullfighter, who goes by the stage name of Jairo Miguel, turned in his best performance with bull number five, which weighed 959lbs.

After skillful cape-work he finished off the bull with a single deathblow from his sword, sliding it into a spot where it severed the beast's spinal cord. With the rest of the bulls he needed around three tries.

For that effort he was awarded the animal's severed ears, one of the bullfighting world's prizes for a job well done.