AN RAF cadets squadron which enjoyed its most successful field training day competition in a decade last year has has gone one better this time round to be crowned overall drill winners.

The 969 St Helens Squadron competed at the event at Kirkby High School against 28 other squadrons from Merseyside.

On a hugely successful day saw the squadron crowned overall drill Competition Winners after being runners-up in 2016.

They also came first in best drill sequence, won the RAF recruitment trophy and came joint-first in the Radio Competition.

Meanwhile, FS Tobi Booth won best drill instructor.

The squadron also picked up three third-place finishes and FS James Metcalfe was shortlisted among the top five for best male Cadet.

CWO Tania Noon was also shortlisted for Best Female Cadet to cap off the squadron’s successes.

Senior non-commissioned officer Kieran Feeney said: “The particular highlight was winning the overall drill competition, which means we now go on and represent Merseyside against the other five wings in our region, which is Staffordshire Wing, West Mercian Wing, Wales 1, Wales 2 and Wales 3 wing.

“The cadets where surprised, we have always been the underdog of the competition.

“However the cadets spent the whole of August practicing and the day before all the cadets where down at the squadron practicing from 10am till 11pm.

“However, they deserved that trophy - they have put 110% effort in, whilst other teenagers were going off on holiday or hanging around parks, our cadets were at squadron, ironing uniform, bulling shoes and practicing drill.”

Keiran added: “The trophy we got for Best Drill Sequence is the Michael Laski Memorial Trophy - it's in memory of an ex-air cadet who use to parade at Huyton squadron. He then moved on to join the Royal Marines.

“Despite displaying true Commando qualities to the very end, Marine Laski died of the wounds he sustained in action on 23 February 2009 to the north of Sangin, Helmand province, Afghanistan. So it's a real honour to have that trophy at our squadron which is in memory of a true hero.”