YOUNG army cadets from Stonyhurst College came out tops in a force exercise on the Isle of Man.

They competed against seven teams from colleges in the North West, as well as the Isle of Man Army Cadet Force, in Exercise Manx Clanger.

The young cadets pitched their skills and wits in two days of swimming, shooting, observation, first aid and command tasks. They also took part in a gruelling navigation test on Snaefell mountain and went on to win the exercise with 1,628 points, ahead of the Merchant Taylor College cadet force team, who came second with 1,428 points.

The Stonyhurst College team, comprising Matthew Howarth and Jessica Macfarlane from Hurst Green, Eric Tsoi from Hong Kong, Edmund Page fom Cirencester, Bernadette Grayston from Longridge and Karla Slack from Preston, received their prizes from Isle of Man chief executive Richard Cornhill.

Lt David Channing, of the Stonyhurst College combined cadet force, said: "What was outstanding over the whole event was the teamwork within the group.

"The use of their strengths and their encouragement of each other was tremendous."