CADETS from Malvern College helped repel a fictitious invading army, reported the Gazette a century ago.

The military exercise supposed that an enemy army had landed at Bristol and was making its way north up the Severn to Birmingham.

A total of 270 Malvern cadets, plus a further 100 from Marlborough were the defenders.

Cadets from other public schools played the attackers.

"A flank attack from the direction of Clevelode Ferry was repulsed by the defending force in the neighbourhood of White Acres Farm," said the paper.

"The main attack of the invaders, based at Pixham Ferry, was made against the defenders left near the Old Hills, the defending force, with the object of drawing the invaders from the river to force a general action involving the main body of the invaders, retiring gradually on Malvern. The main strategic object of the invaders was gained."