A TEENAGER aiming for a commission in the RAF has been made a Lord Lieutenant Cadet for North Yorkshire and will hold the post for a year.

Each year, the Lord Lieutenant of the county, Lord Crathorne, selects the top cadet from each of the sea, army and air cadets corps for the honour.

It involves them attending appropriate formal events with the Lord Lieutenant, which can include Royal visits.

Justin Marshall, 18, from Scruton, holds the rank of Cadet Flight Sergeant with the Northallerton Air Training Corps squadron.

During his five years in the corps he has gained numerous qualifications, from drill and marksmanship to sport, and is close to completing his Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award.

During the summer, he took part in the gruelling 100-mile Nijmegen Marches, in Holland.

His citation also highlights his considerable community work and charity fundraising, as well as his instructional skills with the younger cadets.

The ceremony took place at the cadet centre at Strensall, near York, before a specially-invited audience of about 60 people.

* The Reserve Forces and Cadets Association for Yorkshire and Humberside administers and maintains units from the Sea Cadet Corps, Army Cadet Force and Air Training Corps. Across the region, there are more than 6,000 cadets, aged 13 to 19.