EAST Durham teenager Jennifer Shillaw has been awarded the highest honour an air cadet can get - Lord Lieutenant's Cadet for County Durham.
Jennifer, a sergeant in the Air Training Corps at Seaham, beat four other candidates for the title.
The 18-year-old A-level student at Durham Sixth Form Centre will now be on duty alongside the Lord Lieutenant when the Queen visits Easington, County Durham, on May 8 this year.
Jennifer, who plans to join the RAF, had to undergo a rigorous selection process to defeat her male colleagues.
District of Easington Council chairman Councillor Audrey Laing said: "I was very impressed with Jennifer's outstanding achievement and wanted to recognise her commitment and dedication in some way.
"I am sure she will find the Queen's visit to be an amazing experience and I wish her the best of luck with her chosen career."
The Queen will visit east Durham as part of her golden jubilee celebrations
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