SUPER fit Stephen Bradley was presented with a cup as the fittest recruit at his passing out parade from the Army Training Regiment.

The former Blackburn window cleaner signed up for a new life in the Grenadier Guards, Household Division, at the Army Careers Office in Burnley in November.

Stephen, 22, from the Livesey area of Blackburn, attended Witton Park High School, where he was a midfield player in the school soccer team.

In January, his family watched his passing out parade from the Army Training Regiment in Pirbright. Since then he has spent three months at the Infantry Training Centre, Catterick, where he learned the specialist skills needed for his new career.

After a short spell at the Burnley Army Careers Office, he will join his battalion on an operational tour of Northern Ireland before returning to England for ceremonial duties such as Trooping the Colour next year.

Guardsman Bradley said: "Before joining the Army I had many different jobs and was indecisive about what I wanted to do.

"I finally set up my own business in domestic and commercial window cleaning, earning more money than I shall ever earn in the Armed Forces.

"I was my own boss and employed one man. But I like the Army. It's not as monotonous as civilian life and I know whatever happens, I shall always have some good mates.''

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