A 23-year-old from Sabden has celebrated his formal commissioning as a Royal Navy officer on parade at Britannia Royal Naval College.

Midshipman JayJay Rainford was one of 115 Officer Cadets who took part in the parade, watched by their families and friends.

To earn his place on the parade ground the former Ribblesdale High School student completed an intensive 30-week training course, which was split into three 10-week phases.

The first two took place predominately at the Devon-based college. JayJay spent the final phase of his training assigned to HMS Illustrious.

While he was on board, the ship visited Rosyth for the naming ceremony of the Royal Navy’s new Aircraft Carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth, performed by the Queen.

The ship also visited Lisbon and took part in Exercise Deep Blue, an anti-submarine warfare exercise involving Merlin helicopters from the Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose.

JayJay said: “Training is as much about change as development; due to this I am an all round better leader.

“Having started the path to this commission seven years ago at school I am more than ready to do my duty.”

With the first phase of his training complete he will transfer to HMS Collingwood, in Hampshire, to begin his professional training to become a Weapons Engineering Officer.