IT was crunch time as Air Cadets broke a most unusual record - carrying poppadoms in a lung-bursting relay race.

The challenge took place inside the Thornbury Barracks, home of 2387 (Pudsey) Squadron Air Training Corps, whose cadets qeek beat their previous outdoor record - 30 miles in 30 minutes - by covering a blistering 33.5 miles.

They also completed a new challenge, using their archery skills to fire at chapatis, hitting the target 115 times in 15 minutes.

The event - dubbed the Poppadomathon - was held as part of Bradford Council's bid to be crowned Curry Capital of Britain for the fifth consecutive year.

The event was sponsored by Kipling's, which has Indian restaurants in Greengates, Bradford, and at Ilkley.

Flight Sergeant Daniel Rouse, who oversaw the event for the squadron, said the cadets enjoyed all kinds of physical activities and were very keen to repeat their feat from last year.

MORE TOP STORIES

"We are champions of physical exercise - cross country, athletics, swimming - for the wing of 33 other squadrons in South and West Yorkshire. We have won it for six years. The cadets love sport."

Tricia Tillotson, tourism manager at Visit Bradford, said the event was about improving community cohesion and involving as many people as possible in the Curry Capital bid.

Cadets gathered sponsorship money for taking part, with proceeds going to The Curry Tree, a charitable fund which gives money to causes concerned with poverty, disaster and malnutrition.

In previous years, charities and causes supported include Save the Children, Action Against Hunger and Oxfam, as well as victims of the Pakistan floods.

People can vote in the Curry Capital of Britain competition at visitbradford.com/currycapital. Voting closes on September 25 with the winner announced on October 18.