AN Altrincham man has passed out as an officer at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

Second Lieutenant Richard Swarbrick, aged 25, was in the commissioning parade in front of the Chief of the General Staff, Sir Nick Carter.

Lt Swarbrick completed 44 weeks of intensive military and academic training, combined with adventurous training and sporting challenges.

He will now be joining the Corps of Royal Engineers.

He said: “Being part of an elite group of people that have graduated as British Army officers from Sandhurst makes me extremely proud.

“It’s one of the biggest challenges I have ever undertaken, but also one of the most rewarding. I cannot wait to be putting the leadership skills I’ve learned at Sandhurst to good use as part of my new regiment.”