AN air cadet has received an award from his squadron after passing his exams.

Cadet Flight Sergeant Michael Bennett, 16, of 473 Hartlepool Squadron, has become the group's first member to achieve a BTEC in Aviation Studies.

The new award is for air cadets who complete a syllabus taught by the Air Training Corps.

Michael, a former Tunstall School pupil now studying A-levels at Hartlepool Sixth Form College, wants to become an RAF fighter pilot.