BOLTON soldiers-in-the-making paraded a string of awards at a presentation ceremony.

Youngsters at the Nelson Street drill hall were presented with certificates for bronze and silver awards under the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme.

The certificates were in recognition of months of hard work, which saw cadets attend a fire safety awareness course at Bolton fire station as part of their community service.

The cadets also completed a tough expedition, which for some included a canoe trip down a French river.

Captain Paul Garstang, Troop Commander with the Bolton Territorial Army Artillery Battery, was on hand to present the awards and offer his congratulations.

Winners of the silver award were Cadet Sergeant Vicky Bainbridge, 17 and Bombardier Kerry Watt, 16.

Bronze awards were earned by Lance Bombardier Peter Heeley, 15, and Cadets Hannah Welsby, 15, Rebecca McCarthy, 16, Vicky McCarthy, 14, and Richard Southern, 15.

The Bolton cadets also showed their fighting spirit during the recent Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force pentathlon competition.

Nearly 100 cadets competed in this tough event which included mountain bike racing, target shooting, swimming, a cross-country run and finally the gruelling Krypton Factor assault course!

Prizes were won by Cadets Sarah Partington, 14, Graham Eden, 15, Andrew Woodley, and Scott Hilton, 13.

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