Years of charity fundraising have won a community award for veteran volunteer Kerry Lee - at the tender age of 11.

The Shipley schoolgirl has helped generate thousands of pounds for cancer research and is thought to have been one of the Cancer Research Campaign's youngest ever volunteers.

Over the last four years Kerry, who has just left Low Ash Primary School in Wrose, has regularly helped grandmother Margaret Lee and her friend Judith Price run stalls in aid of Bradford's War on Cancer and the Cancer Research Campaign, which recently merged.

The youngster even learned how to knit so she could help her older colleagues produce dozens of the woollen Christmas tree decorations and Easter bunnies they sell each year.

And despite only learning to swim a year ago Kerry has been taking part in a sponsored event at Aireborough Leisure Centre, which has seen her chalk up 140 lengths in just four sessions in aid of breast cancer research.

Now Kerry has been awarded Wrose Carnival Committee's annual Jack Moore Trophy, which honours the caring efforts of primary school children in the village.

The trophy was launched in memory of well-known Wrose resident Jack Moore, who died in 1996.

He founded the Wrose Historic Motorcycle Show in 1988 as part of the Wrose Carnival and over the years helped to raise thousands of pounds for worthy local causes.

Mrs Price, 64, who nominated Kerry, said: "She's a lovely kid who does a lot of hard work willingly and cheerfully.

"It's delightful to find a youngster who gives up her own leisure time to help others without any thought of reward for herself.''

Kerry said: "I'm very proud to get the trophy but was shocked when I found out because I didn't expect to get anything.

"I just like helping out and raising money for the charity.''

Andrea Bacon, community fundraiser for the Cancer Research Campaign, said: "When she started she must have been one of the youngest recorded volunteers we've had. What she's doing is absolutely tremendous because we're always looking for young people to get involved in what we're doing.''

Carnival committee secretary Bob Lee said: "It's marvellous to hear about a young person doing this sort of thing and just shows there are young people in Bradford doing a lot of unsung work for the community.

"The whole point of the award is to get youngsters to care for others and we're hoping Kerry's story will encourage others to follow in her footsteps.''