A CADET group has returned from a special challenge to mark a century since the end of the First World War.

Three Basildon Army Cadets staff, Sergeant Anthony Woods, Sergeant Emily Cooper, 17 from Basildon and Lance Corporal Lily Smith were selected to embark in the Lord Dannatt’s Round Britain Challenge, in commemoration of the 100 years since the end of the war.

It is a sailing challenge to commemorate the anniversary.

Before the challenge the cadets raised their own funds to get on the challenge which was a minimum of £700 each.

For the event, they sailed on the STS Lord Nelson Southampton ship.

It sailed with a crew of 144 cadets alongside wounded, injured and sick veterans.

The 145th crew member was a Tommy silhouette kindly donated by the charity TBNT, the silhouette showed a soldier and similar statues have been placed in town centres.

They sailed around the four capitals of the UK, from London to Edinburgh, to Belfast, Cardiff, then back into London with the a special event at the Tower of London.

Anthony Woods was assigned onto the Belfast to Cardiff leg and Emily Cooper and Lily Smith both got the Cardiff to London Leg.

Emily Cooper's father, Ian Palmer, 36, from Basildon said: "At each of the capital cities the Lord Nelson sailed into, the crew paraded and were presented with a piece of a shield, each piece was the emblem of the country, when all four pieces were collected they were to presented as one shield at the Tower of London and kept there.

"On arriving in Cardiff with Emily, as a parent, I was anxious and exited for her.

"On seeing the ship the nerves kicked in a little more when you think your daughter is going to have to climb those masts."

Mr Palmer said on the return into London the Lord Nelson sailed up the Thames and stopped at Tilbury to collect lord dannatt, General Francis Richard Dannatt, and lord mayor of London, Sadiq Khan.

It then continued up to Tower Bridge which was raised twice, once for it to pass through and turn around and the second time for it to return to dock at HMS President.

Mr Palmer said: "Once docked a selected number of the cadets took family into the Tower of London for a VIP presentation.

"The cadets and veterans then disembarked to a rapturous applause and marched into the Tower of London for the formal presentation. The rest of the family members remained at HMS president watching on a live feed until the cadets return."

The returned at the start of September,