Teenager glides into airborne independence

But although glider pilot's daughter Charlotte Kitchen, from Denby Dale, near Huddersfield, started learning to fly at 13 she had to wait three more years before she could go solo.

Now she has fulfilled her ambition at Burn Gliding Club, near Selby.

Her first solo flight in the club's K13 glider was due to take place on her 16th birthday on Boxing Day but had to be cancelled because of the weather.

She achieved take off once conditions improved but not without an attack of last minute nerves.

She said: "However as I released the cable at the top of the launch I thought 'phew, stage 1 completed'."