A former South Craven School pupil has received the Royal Marines' coveted Green Beret.

Mark Ives, 20, who comes from Silsden, completed 30 weeks of some of the hardest initial training in the world and has become a Royal Marine Commando.

The Green Beret is the distinctive hallmark of commando troops, indicating that those who wear it have attended and passed a gruelling and physically demanding test of endurance. They have to display commando qualities of unselfishness, cheerfulness under adversity, courage, determination and high professional standards.

A delighted Mark said: "It's been a fantastic achievement for me and I've made some life-long friends among my fellow Royal Marines.

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

The commando tests in the training are the endurance course, the Tarzan assault course, a nine-mile speed march to be completed in 90 minutes in full fighting kit, and a 30-mile load-carry exercise in eight hours.