A former sports massage student from Wymondham is only one of 12 young people across the UK to been selected to train as an Army nurse.

Stephen Worsley, 20, was chosen by the Army Student Nurse Selection Board to study nursing at Birmingham City University which will see him fulfil his dream of qualifying as an Army nurse with the Queen Alexandra's Royal Nursing Corps (QARANC).

Mr Worsley had to pass a rigorous two-day training selection at Sandhurst. This included a numeracy test, researching and writing an essay on a health topic, taking part in group discussion and debates, problem solving tests and an interview with an Army Captain and three Army Majors, as well as completing a tough physical fitness test.

The interview board said: 'Stephen was animated and passionate about service life and showed a clear demonstration and passion for wanting to be an Army nurse.'

He will start basic training on November 22, a year to the day since stepping foot into the Norwich Army Careers and Information Office (ACIO) to find out about an Army nursing career. Yesterday, he took his Oath of Allegiance to the Queen.

Although the QARANC is classed as a non-combatant military role, nurses train to handle weapons so that they can disarm their patients if needed, ensuring their safety within the field hospital.

Mr Worsley is a former City College Norwich Student and a keen body builder. He was inspired by the nursing support that his grandmother received when she was ill.

He said: 'I really enjoyed working in sports massage, but I knew that nursing was something that I just had to do.'

He eventually hopes to specialise in orthopaedic and trauma nursing.

It has been four years since the Norwich ACIO had a successful QARNAC candidate.

Do you have a human interest story for the Evening News? Call reporter Donna-Louise Bishop on 01603 772438 or email donna-louisebishop@archant.co.uk