TWO East Lancashire Royal Navy officers sailed through their training programme.

Chris Knowles, 23, of Lowerfield, Langho, and Jonathan Penson, 22, of Whalley Road, Great Harwood, completed weeks of hard work at Britannia Royal Naval College as part of their initial training.

Chris, a former pupil of Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Blackburn, joined the navy last September and decided on a career in the armed forces when studying computing and management at Loughborough University.

His training included nearly two months on board HMS Manchester on deployment in the West Indies and is currently in Arizona with the 801 Naval Air Squadron. He will continue training in March at the Royal Air Froce College, Cranwell, and hopes to become a pilot in the Fleet Air Arm.

Jonathan was a pupil at Clitheroe Royal Grammar School, Clitheroe, and joined the navy last September after graduating from St Martin's, Lancaster University, with a degree in sports science.

He also spent time on board HMS Manchester but this time in the Caribbean and after a well-deserved summer leave. Sub Lieutenant Penson joined 847 Squadron at the Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton. He still has further professional training to do before he becomes an observer in the Fleet Air Arm.

Chris and Jonathan made the trip with their parents to Dartmouth, in Devon, for the passing out parade where Crown Prince Haakon of Norway took the salute.