A busload of youngsters from Keighley set off from Cougar Park on Monday when the year 2000 Police Awards for Excellence (PAWE) trip got under way.

The scheme, which was the brainchild of former Keighley Cougars captain Joe Grima and local policeman Lee Holmes, was set up to recognise the hard work and commitment of Keighley youngsters.

This year the awards have been organised by Haworth police officer PC Glyn Butterworth and the Keighley Cougars.

PC Butterworth says: "What we were looking for was young people who had done some good community work or good work at home, or people who have done some good work at school which sets them aside from the others."

PC Butterworth, assisted by Chris Slaven, co-ordinator of the Crime Reduction Community Fund, probation workers, Venture Scouts, staff from Royal Mail, the Lawkholme Lane Action Group, Cougars stars Jason Ramshaw and Matt Foster, and nurse Karen Sheenan, from Harefield Hospital, in Middlesex, took the 25 Keighley award winners for the five day trip to the Lake District.

Staying at a youth hostel in Ambleside, PC Butterworth said on Monday that he was looking forward to a packed week.

"You name it, we will be doing it. Canoeing, water skiing, knee-boarding, abseiling, rock climbing, pot holing to name but a few. Then we've got a day trip to Blackpool, to the Pleasure Beach, where we'll be going to Pizza Hut and then on to the Grand Theatre for a comedy extravaganza," said PC Butterworth. The trip is to end with a disco on board a steamer.

On the trip the year 10 students from Keighley were joined by a further 20 award winners from the Huddersfield PAWE scheme.

And here is a day-by-day diary of the trip which has been sent to the Keighley News.

Day One: After the necessary safety talks and lunch we were free to explore Ambleside or the youth hostel grounds, which roll down to the lakes edge.

The after dinner games allowed the group to introduce themselves to each other. Of course, the games included lots of water and even those determined to stay dry were well and truly drenched in what has now become the celebrated start to the week.

Day Two: Water sports meant a choice of water skiing, knee boarding, a cruise around on the speedboat or canoeing. All the participants chose one activity for the morning and swapped after lunch.

The group was supported by Keighley Sub-aqua Club and Bradford Recreation Department who, along with Keighley Scouts, supplied the majority of the equipment. The day ended with a birthday celebration for one of the group members who was 18, when lots of water was drunk -- from the rear of a speedboat and underside of a canoe.