AN Astley teenager has become one of the youngest ever people in the history of the RAF to qualify as a Senior Non-Commissioned Officer.

Nineteen-years-old Paul Jones completed his training at RAF Cranwell in Sleaford, Lincolnshire last month.

He beat off 10,000 applicants to win a place on the prestigious training course, and the youngest in his group to become a Senior NCO and an Airloads Master after an intensive six month training programme.

Paul also has a date with the Queen in July after he was invited to St James's Palace to receive his Duke of Edinburgh gold standard award.