GOOD manners and a willingness to help have earned a group of Army cadets a nomination in The Sentinel's Our Heroes awards.

Members of the Cross Heath detachment have spent hours supporting the Douglas Macmillan Hospice at various fund-raising events.

Their dedication, and the way they carry out their duties, hasn't gone unnoticed.

The cadets were nominated in the Community Group of the Year category by Josie Cope, aged 61, who volunteers as a receptionist at the Douglas MacMillan Hospice, in Blurton.

Mrs Cope met the cadets at last month's Midnight To Sunrise walk, where they acted as marshals, unpacked vans, and transported large amounts of water, fruit juice and fleeces for the event.

Mrs Cope said: “The cadets were absolutely fantastic. They worked exceptionally hard, starting at lunchtime and working right through until midnight, doing all sorts of jobs.”

“They welcomed all the walkers when they arrived at the Britannia Stadium, and they were all very polite and helpful. Best of all, they were prepared to turn their hands to anything and get stuck in. They are a credit to the Army Cadet Force.”

Detachment Commander Andrea Wear, aged 20, said: “They're thrilled to be nominated. As well as our work with Douglas MacMillan, we do a lot of volunteering with the British Legion and the Remembrance Parade in November.

“Community work is integral to the cadet force.”

The cadets take a variety of qualifications aimed at engaging with the community, beginning with the Duke of Edinburgh Awards and working up to the BTEC Diploma in Public Services.

Peter Keller, PR and media officer for the hospice, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have the cadets helping us. Without people like them, we wouldn't be able to provide our service.”