ARMY Cadets who have just completed a gruelling 100 mile challenge will line up as part of a guard of honour to welcome the Queen to Lancashire for a Royal Visit on Monday, August 5.

Corporal Gareth Broxteth from Rosehill, Burnley, Sergeant Martin Evans from Daisyfield, Blackburn, Lance Corporal Chris Peers-Holland and Cadet Liam McHale, both Padiham, Lance Corporal Ryan Schofield, Hapton, and Lance Corporal Luke Whittaker from Church, Accrington, were among eight who took part in the Nijmegen March, joining 40,000 other cadets and serving army personnel to cover over 100 miles in four days on the Holland/Germany border.

This annual event took on even greater significance this year with a special march past in Nijmegen town square to mark the Golden Jubilee.

The young people are the first Army Cadets from Lancashire to complete the March and have raised over £1000 for the Army Benevolent Fund. The achievement has also counted towards their Duke of Edinburgh Award.

They will be wearing the medals they received to mark their completion of the March when they join other Lancashire Cadets representing the Air Training Corps, Sea Cadets and Fire Service Cadets to form a guard of honour for Her Majesty The Queen when she visits Preston on the Lancashire leg of the Golden Jubilee tour.

County Councillor Niki Penney, Chairman of the County Council, said: "These young people are really special. To cover 100 miles in just four days is magnificent and I cannot think of anyone better to represent Lancashire on August 5."