?AN ARMY cadet from Middlesbrough was honoured to read out a prayer in Westminster Abbey as part of the VE Day celebrations.

As well as meeting Prime Minister David Cameron and Ukip leader Nigel Farage, the 17-year-old was also fascinated to speak to many of the veterans involved and listen to their tales.

Charlotte, a member of Cleveland Army Cadets’ Burlam Road attachment in Linthorpe, visited the capital with her cadet instructor and big brother Ashley Young, for the weekend.

“It was just incredible, surreal really,” said Charlotte, who is studying A Levels in psychology, sociology and maths at Macmillan Sixth Form College.

“It was scary when I read out the prayer, I was shaking. When I met the veterans, we heard a few stories. One became a dressmaker for the Queen.”

Charlotte and 24-year-old Ashley - who live with their parents Julie and Martin in Linthorpe and have two older brothers Martin, 25, and Daniel, 31 - watched the VE Day parade.

Then they went to the abbey for hours of rehearsals before going back for the event on Sunday.

Following the service they went to St James’ Park where they met several

war veterans.

Ashley said he thinks he was “more nervous than Charlotte was” when she made her reading.

Charlotte was the only army cadet to attend the event and was put forward by her branch as she was a “good candidate with a good public speaking record”.

“It was an honour to attend,” said Ashley, who has been a member for 10 years.