A naval officer from Helston earned two prestigious awards when he completed his flying training at RNAS Culdrose.

In addition to gaining his "Wings", Lieutenant Stephen Ivill was presented with the trophies awarded to the best all-round student completing flying training and the best observer completing anti-submarine warfare training.

Stephen, 39, joined the Royal Navy as a seaman in 1983, serving in the frigates HMS Galatea and HMS Arethusa before training as an aircrewman and serving with a number of Culdrose-based squadrons.

He was selected for promotion and commissioned in 2003 following officer training at Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth.

Returning to Culdrose, he undertook the observers' training course with 750 squadron - a course acknowledged as one of the most demanding in the Royal Navy - before beginning Merlin helicopter training with 824 squadron last year.

He has now joined 814 squadron - a front line Merlin squadron.

Stephen was awarded the Queen's Commendation for Bravery for the role he played in the rescue of 14 Spanish seamen from their stricken container ship, Delfin del Mediterraneo, in the North Atlantic in 1998.

He is married to Wendy and the couple, who have a seven-year-old son, Christopher, live in Helston.