A FIREFIGHTER has travelled 8,000 miles across the globe to receive a prestigious award at a County Durham training centre.

Crew manager Ian France has temporarily swapped the winter of the Falklands for the sunny North-East to receive the International Cadet of the Year award at Durham Tees Valley airfield.

Mr France, who works for the Falkland Islands Government Airport Fire & Rescue Service, completed training courses at the airfield’s International Fire Training Centre (IFTC) throughout 2015 and his excellent record impressed course leaders.

IFTC business operations manager, Gary Watson, explained: “Airport firefighters from around the world and of all ranks have been training at the IFTC since 1981 and there is a strong sense of heritage and ethos here for the community we serve.

“The reason why award-winners among the IFTC alumni do so well is because of their personal attributes: the commitment they demonstrate, the trust they inspire and the service excellence that they display.

“Ian has been recognised for possessing these qualities and this award is not about the trophy, it is about the recognition for his talent and a public acknowledgement of his outstanding attitude.”

Mr France works on the Falklands’ inter-island hopper service which operates a small fleet of Britton-Norman BN2 Islanders.

He also s provides safety support for Bristow Helicopters which work for the island’s oil and gas industry.

He said he was delighted to receive the award and would be taking a holiday to the Seychelles with his partner following his stop-off in County Durham.

He will then undertake the 18-hour flight back home to the Falkland Islands to get straight back into uniform and back into work.

He said: “I’m really grateful to everyone at IFTC for their support, and I feel very honoured to have been chosen as the top overseas student.

“IFTC is recognised as a global leader for aviation firefighters, and I feel very proud to be part of the alumnus.”

Mr France was one of 300 students at the IFTC in 2015.