TALENTED teenagers at Thorn Cross have benefited from a fire cadet course.

The nine inmates spent 10 weeks on the course, run in conjunction with the Fire Authority.

The youngsters passed fire safety skills, first aid, bronze Duke of Edinburgh, manual handling, anger management plus crime and consequences workshops.

Gary Custance, senior officer on the juvenile unit, said: "It helped to improve their self-esteem, team working and leadership skills, plus gave them a sense of citizenship

"The lads had to have the potential to cope with the high level of skills demanded, an ability to cope with technical terminology and a good attention span."