YOUNGSTERS who saved their siblings from a fire, raised money for fellow-sufferers of a disease and educated hundreds of their peers were among those recognised with awards yesterday.

The sixth annual Shrievalty Awards were presented by the High Sheriff of Durham, Thomas Swan OBE, at Durham Castle.

Due to the unusually large number of recipients - 32 young people from throughout County Durham - they had to be given out in two separate ceremonies.

Every year, relatives, the police, teachers, youth and church organisations nominate youngsters who have shown personal bravery or carried out valuable community work.

This year's recipients included sisters Zoe, 14 and Kimberly Baker, 11, who were babysitting their sisters Sky, ten, and Shannon, five, and eight-year-old brother Dan when a fire broke out at their home in Toft Crescent, Murton, last December.

Using information they learned at a Safety Carousel workshop, the girls battled intense heat and smoke to rescue their siblings, switch off the electricity at the mains and ask a neighbour to ring the fire brigade.

Another recipient, Lyndon Longhorne, six, of Crook, County Durham, contracted meningiococcal septicaemia when he was eight months old, resulting in him having both legs, most of his right arm, and his left hand fingers and thumb amputated.

Despite his disabilities, he joins in all school activities without complaining, even taking part in PE with the help of prosthetic limbs.

Each of the 32 received a certificate and £35 worth of gift vouchers.

Chief Inspector Tim Wilson, chief executive of Durham Agency Against Crime, which supports the awards, said: "We often hear about bad behaviour by a minority of youngsters but the Shrievalty Awards paint a much truer picture.

"It is heartening to see so many young people being put forward. They all deserve the highest praise."