LECTURER Frances Elliott will be presented with an award today for her work with young offenders.

Ms Elliott will be joined by prison staff from around the country at an award ceremony at Buckingham Palace, where she will be presented with a Butler Trust certificate for her work with inmates at Deerbolt Young Offenders' Institution, Barnard Castle.

She has worked for 13 years training and assessing volunteer tutors who work on a one-to-one basis with students at Deerbolt. Tutors spend three sessions a week with inmates who want to improve their basic literacy and numeracy skills.

Deerbolt governor Phil Copple said: "Fran's unwavering belief in the potential of young people has been the driving force behind the achievements of educational excellence at Deerbolt."

The Princess Royal will present 34 Butler Trust awards at the ceremony.