WHAT a difference a year makes - at the beginning of this one the Bridport sea cadets unit was close to collapse.

But yesterday members of TS Keppel had the honour of hosting the Trafalgar Day parade leading more than 200 cadets from Dorset and Somerset.

Thanks to Barry Woodhouse and other naval friends who joined a new management team the ailing unit is now in fighting form and well up to the challenge of hosting so many fellow sea scouts.

Mr Woodhouse said it had been a fantastically successful event with the salute taken by Dorset’s Vice-Lord Lieutenant James Gibson Fleming.

He said: "We were just so lucky with the weather. It went absolutely brilliantly, it couldn't have been better. The whole of the parade went beautifully. You have to remember these people are only ten to 18 years old .

"The band from Portland was fantastic, the service in the church could not have been better done by the Rev Peter Stone and Ella Plowman, who is part of nour unit, read the lesson faultlessly."

The Portland Sea Cadet band won this year's sea cadet band competition held at the Tower of London and has been going to HMS Raleigh in Cornwall to get some training by the marines.

Mr Woodhouse said they were also honoured by the presence of the nationwide captain of the country's sea cadets Phil Russell.

Mr Woodhouse added: "He has 400 units so it is very rare he can come. He very kindly appeared for this. He just thanked the cadets and was there for the salute and handed some of the awards out for the cadet units."

TS Keppel was a awarded a pennant after its inspection by Commander Nigel Morton- the sea cadet equivalent of an Ofsted report.

The Bridport unit provided food for more than 250 cadets at its HQ, with help from Palmer Brewery and KL Marquees