A HIGH-FLYING teenager from York celebrated his 14th birthday in style - by taking to the skies for his first solo glider flight.

Christopher Edmunds, of Haxby, became one of only a handful of glider pilots to go solo on their 14th birthday, the youngest age at which you can take control of your own glider.

A pupil at Huntington School, he has only been a member of the Wolds Gliding Club in Pocklington since January, after his grandmother gave him club membership for Christmas. Christopher, who hopes to become a commercial airline pilot when he leaves school, achieved the feat after around 70 flights with club instructors.

He said: “I’d recommend gliding to anyone who has a passion for aviation.” The club’s chief flying instructor John Norman added: “Chris has shown great dedication and skill to reach solo standard since January. It is a wonderful achievement.”