AIR cadets kept their feet firmly on the ground when they helped heave a fighter jet using nothing but muscle power.

The youngsters took part in a sponsored pull of a Tornado at RAF Leeming to raise funds for the Meningitis Trust.

The event was organised by James Witham, a civilian instructor with 58 Harrogate Squadron Air Training Corps, after he read about a local girl with the disease.

About 80 cadets from squadrons based in Harrogate, Ripon, Knaresborough and Wetherby, along with ambulance staff, worked in relays to pull the jet for a mile around the base.

Cadet Corporal Gemma Pickup said: "As well as raising money for charity, the event was also a great team-building activity as we all had to work together to pull the Tornado.

"It was great to see the aircraft up close as many would have only seen it in photographs, or up in the sky, and everybody involved in the event knew it was for an extremely worthy cause.

"Although the final amount we raised is not known yet, we are positive it will be a great donation for the Meningitis Trust and are sure it will make a big difference in their research."