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 today.

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, family members, 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 their eight-year-old brother Dan when a fire broke out at their home in Toft Crescent, Murton, last December.

Using information they had learned from 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."

The award recipients were:

(morning) Harry Crosby, 13, from Seaham, for his determination in overcoming brain damage; Zoe, 14 and Kimberley Baker, 11, from Murton, for rescuing their siblings from a fire; Laura Dillon, 13, Michael Coates, 14, Martin Sturgeon, 15, Mark Franks, 16, James Gilbey, 17, Kirsty Littlefair, 18, all from Darlington, and Jenna, 14 and Joe Newman, 12, from Newton Aycliffe, for their work as part of Peer Support 2000 (PS2K); Natasha Whitfield, 15, from Darlington, for overcoming a severe heart condition; Rebecca Parkin, 13, from Darlington, for raising money for Crohn's disease; Daniel Garbutt and Philip McKenna, both 12, from Newton Hall, for their bravery in a robbery. (afternoon) Lyndon Longhorne, six, from Crook, for coping with amputations; Arron (corr) Saunders, nine, from Newton Aycliffe, for overcoming cerebral palsy, Charlotte Hornsby, 15, from Witton Park, Laura Lee, 16, Iysha Sutherland, 16, Lindsay Coglan, 17, Mark Ross, 15, Matthew Saunders, 17, Daniel Wales, 16, Steven Brownson, 16, and James Millward, 13, all from Bishop Auckland, for their research into teenage pregnancy; Sylvana Noble, Lindsay Barker and Samantha Pattinson, all 15, and from Durham, for their children's project; Angela Eyre, Amanda Dixon and Gary Harker, all 16, and from Durham, for their youth shelter.