Two North Walsham teenagers have received rare awards for their service to a life-saving organisation.

Ben Orton, 16, and 13-year-old Rianna Payne have been presented with St John Ambulance Personal Achievement awards because of the time they have dedicated to the brigade.

Between January and December 2015 Rianna devoted 130 hours to her role as a St John Cadet, while fellow Cadet Ben gave 79 hours to the cause.

The pair received the awards, which have not been presented in North Walsham in living memory, at a ceremony which also saw 11-year-olds Evie Neave and Corbin Hall enrolled as Cadets.

And Cadets Henry Hardingham, 12, Harrison Neave, 13, and Devon Orton received a range of certificates for achievements including casualty communication and listening skills, cookery and food hygiene, and caring for others.

Ben, who has just left North Walsham High School, joined St John as a Badger aged four and hopes to use his skills in his chosen career as an outdoor instructor in either rock climbing or canoeing.

'It's exciting to learn new things and meet new people,' he said.

'My training with St John is pretty impressive and it's given me confidence.'

Rianna, who attends North Walsham High School, joined as a Cadet aged 11, inspired by her grandmother, Maureen Payne, who is Cadet Leader at North Walsham.

'I can do CPR, defibrillation, I know what to do if someone has an asthma attack or chokes - I can save someone's life,' said Rianna, who wants to go into a branch of nursing.

She was able to put her first aid skills into practice when helping adult St John members at an event where someone cut their knee. Rianna was allowed to clean the wound.

Anyone interested in joining the Cadets can phone Mrs Payne on 01692 402760.