CHORLEY trooper Martin McMullan has just completed his final training in London to become a coveted member of the Blues and Royals.

Martin, 17, a former pupil at St Michaels C of E school in Chorley, recently finished his phase one training at Pirbright and phase two mounted training at Knightsbridge, London.

Martin, whose parents used to live on Meadow View, Chorley, until recently, said: "My uncle Colin Toghill was a Corporal Major when he was in the Household Cavalry.

"While at school, I once played football for Preston North End and had trials for England Schoolboys."

He added: "During basic training, I achieved an NVQ, a Duke of Edinburgh's Gold Award. We had to get in to groups of six and one leader was chosen. I was the leader for our group and our task was to navigate a trail around Snowdonia and then to the summit which we completed." REAL TROOPER: Martin McMullan