AN environmentally aware student has been honoured for her community work.

Abbie Lawrence, 16, has been chosen to represent the North of England and Scotland as Young Ambassador of the 21st Century at the regional finals of the Lions Club competition.

Abbie, a student at Northallerton College, was presented with her award at a ceremony at Hartlepool Historic Quay.

She was chosen in recognition of her voluntary efforts within the local community for her work with the Millennium Volunteers, the college's environmental action group, North Yorkshire County Council and Connexions Youth Service.

Abbie, of Darlington, said: "It was great to be selected for this award. I have been doing voluntary work since I was 14 and especially enjoy working with young people and the issues that affect them.

"I would love to study law at Cambridge and, hopefully, to specialise in child protection."

Abbie was presented with a £500 bursary which she plans to share between the environmental action group Water Aid and Oxfam Unwrapped, where it will be used to buy a cow and a plot of land for farming in Africa.

Abbie will compete against 11 other regional winners in the national finals of the competition in Birmingham, next year.

The winner will receive £1,000 to be spent on charities of their choice and a trip to a youth camp in eastern Europe.

Thirsk and Northallerton Lions Club president Peter Cole said: "This is a fantastic result for Abbie who is a credit to both herself and the college."