A BURY seaman is set to serve as a Royal Navy observer on missions in the Gulf after being awarded his "Wings".

Lieutenant Allan McInnes studied computing and management science at Sheffield Hallam University before joining Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC) at Dartmouth in 2010.

Since then, the former St Gabriel's High School student has completed an operational tour of duty in Oman with Merlin helicopter Force Headquarters and served onboard HMS Ark Royal before she was de-commissioned.

Observer students streamed for the Airborne Surveillance and Control (ASaC) specialisation are taught to operate the Sea King Mk 7 helicopter. Their syllabus covers mission control system manipulation, low level navigation and secondary roles such as winching.

After spending several years in training at air stations across the country, Lt McInnes was finally awarded his coveted “Wings” at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose.

The presentation took place at a formal parade on 824 Naval Air Squadron, in front of his family, friends and senior naval officers from the Fleet Air Arm.

Presenting "Wings" and certificates of competence to Lt McInnes and his fellow students was the guest of honour, Lord Hutton of Furness. They were applauded as they marched smartly in front of Lord Hutton and picked up their respective awards before enjoying a special luncheon with their families and guests.

Lt McInnes will now join 849 Naval Air Squadron and serve with them on operations in the Gulf.

He said: "It is a really proud day for me. It’s been a long hard course and has involved a lot of work and dedication, but I have got here in the end. I am really looking forward to serving on a frontline squadron deploying later in the summer.”