Corporal Matt Hobday to take on his new role as a physical training officer in the Royal Air Force.

A Honiton man has become the Royal Air Force’s youngest corporal after months of intensive training.

Matt Hobday, 20, formerly of Lilley Walk, was one of only 11 applicants chosen out of 12,000 to become a physical training officer at the RAF’s School of Physical Training in Cosford, near Wolverhampton.

The former Honiton Community College student was an Air Cadet with 2469 Exeter St Thomas Squadron and the 1064 Squadron in Honiton.

As part of his role as a training officer, Corporal Hobday will be responsible for implementing fitness testing strategies and training personnel of all ranks.

He has taken up his first posting at RAF Honington, in Suffolk, and will be helping personnel to prepare for deployment to Afghanistan.