A FORMER Durham schoolboy is celebrating after passing what is said to be the hardest military training in the world.

Steven Kitching, 19, a former pupil of Framwellgate Moor School, has the Green Beret after 30 weeks training to be a Royal Marine Commando.

Steven, a plasterer before signing up, follows in the footsteps of father Steven, who was a Green Beret for six years.

During his time at the Commando training centre at Lympstone, Devon, Steven faced gruelling tests including a 30-mile 'yomp' across Dartmoor, a nine-mile speed march and completion of a tree-top assault course.

Steven, who is now being posted to Arbroath, said: "Commando training is well known for its intensity. But everything we do is progressive, which enables people with all standards of fitness to achieve the final goal - to finish as a Royal Marine Commando and to be awarded the coveted Green Beret.

"It's been a fantastic experience for me and I've made some lifelong friends among my fellow Royal Marines.

"The sense of achievement felt by all of us is immense but I know that many more challenges are to come, challenges which we are well equipped to meet.''

His mother Margaret said: "He always said he wasn't interested in joining but he woke up one morning and decided that was what he wanted to do. He is one of 17 out of 49 who started training to get through.''